Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
888
889
888
Tomato moth (
Lacanobia oleracea
).
889
Larva of tomato moth (
Lacanobia oleracea
) - green form.
890
891
890
Larva of tomato moth (
Lacanobia oleracea
) - brown
form.
891
Larva of Blair's shoulder knot moth (
Lithophane leautieri
hesperica
).
892
major veins. Leaves, stems and flowers are often
damaged severely, particularly in greenhouses, attacked
plants being rendered unmarketable if not completely
destroyed.
Lithophane leautieri hesperica
Boursin
(
891-892
)
Blair's shoulder knot moth
A migratory, Mediterranean insect associated with
common juniper (
Juniperus communis
) and Italian
cypress (
Cupressus sempervirens
). In recent years this
moth has greatly extended its range. It now occurs
abundantly in many more northerly areas, including
much of southern England, where it was first reported in
1951 and has since become adapted to Leyland cypress
(
Cupressocyparis leylandii
) and Monterey cypress
(
Cupressus macrocarpa
). The larvae (up to 35 mm
long) are green, with a pair of broad white subdorsal
stripes, a similar pair of lateral stripes, white pinacula
and the abdominal spiracles surrounded by purplish-red
patches. They feed mainly on the young growth,
developing from February or March onwards. Fully
892
Blair's shoulder knot moth (
Lithophane leautieri
hesperica
).
grown individuals enter the soil in July, each spinning a
flimsy cocoon in which they pupate after an extended
prepupal stage. The adults (40-45 mm wingspan) are
mainly grey, irregularly marked with black. In northerly
areas they occur in October and November.
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