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Agonopterix rotundella is a moth of the family Depressariidae and is found in most of Europe. It was first described from moths found in Surrey, England by the entomologist John Douglas in 1846.[2]

Agonopterix rotundella
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Depressariidae
Genus:	Agonopterix
Species:	A. rotundella
Binomial name
Agonopterix rotundella (Douglas, 1846)[1]
Synonyms
Depressaria rotundella Douglas, 1846 Depressaria peloritanella Zeller, 1847

Life cycle

Imago

The wingspan is 14–17 mm. The forewings are rather narrow, pale greyish-ochreous, sometimes somewhat fuscous sprinkled posteriorly; subbasal mark of dorsum reduced to a dark fuscous dot; first discal stigma absent, a black dot obliquely before and above its usual position, second black dark fuscous terminal dots, sometimes indistinct. Hindwings whitish-grey, darker terminally. The larva is green; dorsal and subdorsal lines darker; head and plate of 2 black[3]

Adults are on wing from September to May, overwintering as an adult. [4]

Eggs

In Great Britain and Ireland, eggs are laid on the leaves of wild carrot (Daucus carota) during May.[2] Elsewhere in Europe eggs are also laid on Laserpitium gallicum and Distichoselinum tenuifolium.[5]

Larva

Larva can be found from June to August. Initially they mine the leaves of their host plant in the form of a small, irregular full depth corridor.[5] Older larvae vacate their mines and continue feeding in a folded leaf, sewn with white silk. The silk can often be seen at the edge of the habitation. Early instars are a dull yellowish green with a black head. On the later instars the body is apple green with dark greyish green lines and a black head.[4]

Similar species

The intermediate and later instars of A. ciliella feed on a variety of umbelliferous plants; larvae of this species and A. rotundella should be reared to confirm the identification.[6]

Pupa

Found in the soil or amongst detritus.[2]

Distribution

The moth is found in most of Europe, except Fennoscandia and most of the Balkan Peninsula.[1] In Britain, although the type species was found inland it is now confined to coasts. Also found in Iran and Turkey.[2]

References

External links

• Media related to Agonopterix rotundella at Wikimedia Commons
• British Lepidoptera

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