Pammene populana explained

Pammene populana, the pygmy piercer, is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in most of Europe, except Portugal, the Balkan Peninsula and Ukraine.[1] The habitat consists of woodland, marshes, riverbanks, fens and sand dunes.[2]

The wingspan is 10–15 mm.[3] Adults have a yellowish blotch on the dorsum with a darker central spot. Meyrick describes it - Forewings dark fuscous, costa posteriorly strigulated with whitish; a triangular ochreous-white median dorsal blotch, apex somewhat bent posteriorly, including a small triangular dark fuscous dorsal spot; three streaks from costa and margins of ocellus leaden-metallic. Hindwings dark fuscous, base lighter. Larva whitish-green; head black; plate of 2 black, anteriorly whitish-green.[4]

They are on wing from July to August.[5]

The larvae feed on Salix species. They spin a shelter from leaf fragments.

Notes and References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20140102190847/http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=439066 Fauna Europaea
  2. http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/1232.php Hants Moths
  3. http://www.microlepidoptera.nl/soorten/species.php?speciescode=362910&p=1 microlepidoptera.nl
  4. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf Keys and description
  5. https://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=1232 UKmoths