Dichrorampha cf. aeratanaa

• Subfamily: Olethreutinae, Grapholitini
• Wingspan: 12-16 mm
• Flight period: May - Jul
• Spread: Common
• Host plants: Asteraceae

Information

The Dichrorampha aeratana is a moth of the Tortricidae family with a wingspan of 12-16 mm. Present in almost all of Europe with Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia and the Iberian Peninsula *.
Its range extends to the Middle East and North America. ***
In Italy it is also present in the islands. *

Several species of the genus Dichrorampha are very similar in appearance, and it is often necessary, as for the present species, examine the genitals to be sure of identification, then cf. it is a must.
In particular, the confusion of this species with Dichrorampha plumbana has led to the uncertainty of its distribution, although it is a relatively common species.

The front wings of the Dichrorampha aeratana have a brown background color, with lighter markings. A clear spot, not well defined in shape and color, it is present in the mid-dorsal area.
The costa has streaks of metallic silver color from the basal area to the apex, interspersed, from about half with golden scales. The golden hue is present in the postdiscal and submarginal regions with greater intensity along the margin and in the apex. **

A series of oblong black spots are visible in the submarginal region, from the apex to the inner corner. The edge is fringed. The rear wing is brown in color, paler in the basal region, also with fringed edges.

The edge is fringed in light color. The hind wings are off-white or brownish, also fringed. **

Attend meadows, paths and road edges. The male is visible during the hot season in the afternoon; both sexes are seen flying on the host plant at dusk.

The larva feeds internally in the rootstock of Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, Leucanthemum vulgare (common daisy) and Tanacetum vulgare. *, **


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** Bestimmungshilfe für die in Europa nachgewiesenen Schmetterlingsarten - http://lepiforum.de/
*** Dichrorampha aeratana (Pierce & Metcalfe, 1915)