Agonopterix umbellana

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Gorse soft shoot moth
Agonopterix umbellana, North Wales, September 2012 (20191341660).jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Depressariidae
Genus: Agonopterix
Species:
A. umbellana
Binomial name
Agonopterix umbellana
(Fabricius, 1794)
Synonyms
  • Pyralis umbellanaFabricius, 1794
  • Depressaria lennigiellaFuchs, 1880
  • Depressaria prostratellaConstant, 1884
  • Depressaria ulicetellaStainton, 1849
  • Agonopterix ulicetella(Stainton, 1849)
  • Agonopterix umbellana f. knitschkeiPredota, 1934

Agonopterix umbellana (gorse soft shoot moth) 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 . [1]

A sprig of Ulex nanus with a larval web Agonopterix umbellana a sprig of Ulex nanus with a larval web.JPG
A sprig of Ulex nanus with a larval web
Larva Agonopterix ulicitella.jpg
Larva

The wingspan is about 21 mm. The forewings are whitish ochreous ; veins and dorsum marked with dark fuscous lines ; first and sometimes second discal stigmata black ; terminal black dots. Hindwings pale whitish-grey, round apex sometimes interruptedly dark-edged. The larva is dull green ; dots black ; head and plate of 2 black [2]

Adults are on wing from August to April. It hibernates during winter and can reappear in the early spring.

The larvae feed on Ulex and Genista species within silken tubes.

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

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

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

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<i>Anarsia spartiella</i> Species of moth

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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References

  1. Eric Coombs (May 1, 2007). "Agonopterix ulicitella". Oregon Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 2009-01-14. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  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