Agonopterix assimilella

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Agonopterix assimilella
32.024 BF702 Agonopterix assimilella (5755828509).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Depressariidae
Genus: Agonopterix
Species:
A. assimilella
Binomial name
Agonopterix assimilella
(Treitschke, 1832) [1]
Synonyms
  • Haemylis assimilellaTreitschke, 1832
  • Depressaria irrorellaStephens, 1834

Agonopterix assimilella is a moth of the family Depressariidae. It is found in most of Europe.

A sprig of broom with stems united by the web of a larva 2017 03 29 Agonopterix assimilella2.jpg
A sprig of broom with stems united by the web of a larva
Larva 32.024 BF702 Agonopterix assimilella (4581590495).jpg
Larva

The wingspan is 15–21 mm. The forewings are whitish-ochreous, often mixed with deeper ochreous or brownish, strewn with dots of blackish scales; first discal stigma blackish, second whitish, but usually obsolete, sometimes preceded by a reddish mark, across which lies often an oblique dark fuscous suffusion. Hindwings are ochreous-grey-whitish. The larva is brown; dots black; head and plate of 2 black. [2]

Adults are on wing from April to June.

The larvae feed on Cytisus scoparius . Larvae can be found from October to February. [3] The species overwinters in the larval stage within the stem. [4]

Biocontrol agent in New Zealand

A. assimilella has been introduced to New Zealand to attempt to control the invasive to New Zealand plant Cytisus scoparius . [5] As at 2021 the success of the introduction of this species to New Zealand was uncertain. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Cytisus scoparius</i> Ornamental broom shrub

Cytisus scoparius, the common broom or Scotch broom, is a deciduous leguminous shrub native to western and central Europe. In Britain and Ireland, the standard name is broom; this name is also used for other members of the Genisteae tribe, such as French broom or Spanish broom; and the term common broom is sometimes used for clarification. In other English-speaking countries, the most common name is "Scotch broom" ; however, it is known as English broom in Australia.

<i>Agonopterix arenella</i> Species of moth

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<i>Agonopterix ocellana</i> Species of moth

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<i>Agonopterix nervosa</i> Species of moth

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<i>Agonopterix angelicella</i> Species of moth

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<i>Agonopterix heracliana</i> Species of moth

Agonopterix heracliana is a moth of the family Depressariidae. It is found in most of Europe, North Africa, the Near East, and the eastern part of the Palearctic realm. It was first described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae.

<i>Agonopterix umbellana</i> Species of moth

Agonopterix umbellana is a moth of the family Depressariidae. It is native to western Europe, but was introduced to Hawaii in 1988 and New Zealand in 1990 to control Ulex europaeus.

<i>Pyroderces aellotricha</i> Species of moth

Pyroderces aellotricha, also known as the Cosmet moth, is a moth of the family Cosmopterigidae. It is found in New Zealand, in Australia and the Cook Islands.

<i>Agonopterix ciliella</i> Species of moth

Agonopterix ciliella is a moth of the family Depressariidae. It is found in most of Europe, except the Iberian Peninsula, most of the Balkan Peninsula and the Benelux. It is also found in North America.

<i>Agonopterix subpropinquella</i> Species of moth

Agonopterix subpropinquella is a moth of the family Depressariidae. It is found in most of Europe.

<i>Agonopterix kaekeritziana</i> Species of moth

Agonopterix kaekeritziana is a moth of the family Depressariidae. It is found in most of Europe east to the Near East and the eastern part of the Palearctic realm.

<i>Aproaerema anthyllidella</i> Species of moth

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<i>Scrobipalpa obsoletella</i> Species of moth

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<i>Ichneutica morosa</i> Species of moth

Ichneutica morosa is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the southern parts of the North Island and throughout the South Island. I. morosa is common in the eastern parts of both those islands and also in Fiordland. I. morosa can be found from altitudes ranging from lowlands to the alpine zone. I. morosa is absent from the range of its closely related species I. mustulenta, that is from the northern North Island. The larvae of I. morosa are known to feed on Poa astonii and also on other Poa species including introduced species. As well as its standard form the adult moths have a grey colour morph with the head and thorax being a grey and mottled brown, and the forewing being a pale greyish ochreous to a deep brown, suffused with grey. I. morosa can be confused with I. mustulenta and I. lignana. Adults are on the wing from November to April.

<i>Trigonistis anticlina</i> Species of moth

Trigonistis anticlina is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. Adults of this species inhabit dense native forest habitat in ravines.

<i>Ichneutica steropastis</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Ichneutica steropastis, or the flax notcher moth, is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the country from the Three Kings Islands to Stewart Island as well as in the Chatham Islands. The larvae of this species feed on a variety of native and introduced plants however the New Zealand flax is one of the more well known host plants for the larvae of this moth. The larvae are nocturnal, hiding away in the base of the plants and coming out to feed at night. They create a distinctive notch in the leaf when they feed. The adults of this species are on the wing from October to March. Although adult specimens of I. steropastis are relatively easy to recognise they might possibly be confused with I. inscripta, I. theobroma or with darker forms of I. arotis. However I. steropastis can be distinguished as it has a long dark basal forewing streak that these three species lack.

<i>Agonopterix argillacea</i> Species of moth

Agonopterix argillacea is a moth in the family Depressariidae. It was described by Thomas de Grey in 1881. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from California to British Columbia and in Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Michigan, South Dakota, Illinois, Texas, Florida and Utah.

<i>Anisoplaca ptyoptera</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Anisoplaca ptyoptera is a species of moth in the family Gelechiidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1885 and is endemic to New Zealand. This species is found throughout the North and South Islands and prefers habitat where its host plants are common. The larval hosts of this moth are species in the genus Carmichaelia and the larvae stem mine the host plant. However larvae have also been observed feeding on gorse species and as a result their potential as a biological control for gorse has been researched. This behaviour has only been recorded in the Canterbury and Otago regions. A. ptyoptera overwinters as larvae and while in that life stage can be parasitised by species of wasp in the genera Zealachertus and Diadegma. Pupation begins in October. Adult moths are on the wing from October until May with peak emergence occurring in January. The adult moths come in two size classes and should the size of the female be in the larger class fecundity is improved. It is likely that this species has only one brood a year.

<i>Eutorna inornata</i> Species of moth

Eutorna inornata is a moth in the family Depressariidae. It was described by Alfred Philpott in 1927. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands. The larvae of this moth are leaf miners of Selliera radicans.

<i>Opsitycha squalidella</i> Species of moth

Opsitycha squalidella is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1884. This species is native to Australia and is likely adventive to New Zealand.

References

  1. Fauna Europaea
  2. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain . Keys and description
  3. UKmoths
  4. lepiforum.de
  5. "BCANZ · Biological Control Agents introduced to New Zealand". b3.net.nz. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
  6. "Spring Activities". Manaaki Whenua. Retrieved 2022-05-07.