Calamotropha paludella

• Subfamily: Crambinae
• Wingspan: 23-29 mm
• Flight period: May - Aug
• Spread: Common
• Host plants: Typhaceae

Information

The Calamotropha paludella is a moth of the Crambidae family, subfamily Crambinae, with a wingspan of 23-29 mm.
It is distributed throughout Europe with the exception of Albania, Serbia and Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia and Ukraine. In Italy it is present in Sardinia but not in Sicily. *

The front wings vary from cream to brown, sometimes with black dusting, more evident in correspondence with the veins. They have a series of dark spots in the post-discal region that form a sort of arc. Three other dark points are visible in correspondence with the following areas: 1 anal area-discal region - 2 median area-discal region -3 radial area-postdical region. All series of points are not always clearly visible. Both sexes have bright white hind wings.

Sexual dimorphism is not very noticeable, males are slightly smaller and darker. It frequents swampy and water-rich areas, such as ditches and irrigation canals where the host plant is present. The moth flies from June to August depending on the latitude. The larva undermines the leaves, stems and upper rootstock of the host plant from September to May, pupates between June and July. **

The larvae feed on Typha latifolia (reptile) and sometimes on Typha angustifolia.


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** Nature Spot - https://www.naturespot.org.uk/