Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Family
OECOPHORIDAE
LIFE HISTORY
Larvae feed on willow trees in May and June, spinning
the leaves of the new shoots together to form a shelter.
Fully fed larvae drop to the ground and eventually
pupate, each in a subterranean, silken cocoon. Adults
occur from July to September.
A group of relatively small moths with prominent labial
palps and broadly elongate fore wings. The larvae have
a well-developed prothoracic plate and are very active.
Agonopterix conterminella
(Zeller) (
590-591
)
Willow shoot moth
A generally common but minor pest of willow (
Salix
).
Present throughout central Europe; also found in the
more southerly parts of northern Europe.
DAMAGE
The larvae cause noticeable distortion of the shoot tips
but infestations are rarely extensive.
DESCRIPTION
Adult:
18-19 mm wingspan; fore wings reddish brown,
suffused with blackish and yellowish-white scales; hind
wings brownish white.
Larva:
up to 18 mm long: light
green, with black pinacula; head yellowish brown;
young larva pale, with the head, prothoracic plate and
pinacula black.
590
590
Willow shoot moth (
Agonopterix conterminella
).
591
591
Larva of willow shoot moth (
Agonopterix conterminella
).
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