Dichrorampha simpliciana

• Subfamily: Olethreutinae, Grapholitini
• Wingspan: 12-16 mm
• Flight period: May - Sep
• Spread: Common
• Host plants: Artemisia vulgaris

Information

The Dichrorampha simpliciana is a moth of the Tortricidae family with a wingspan of 12-16 mm.
Present in almost all of Europe with the exception of Portugal and the Balkan Peninsula. *
In Italy it is absent from the islands. *

As mentioned in other pages several species of Dichrorampha are very similar in appearance, In particular, the confusion of this species can occur with Dichrorampha acuminatana , although in this case the absence of the white marginal line of the anterior wing in the Dichrorampha simpliciana helps in identification.

The front wings of the Dichrorampha simpliciana have a brown background color, with lighter markings and often heavily sprinkled with ocher. **
A light spot, composed of a series of lines is present in the mid-dorsal area. The costahas gray streaks from about half to the apex. **

Visible 3 or 4 dark spots almost black along the margin, delimited by a gray line. The edge is fringed in the background color of the wing. The hind wings are gray, also fringed.

The flight period is from May to September; mainly crepuscular species overwinters in the larva stage.

The larva is white / yellowish, the head is dark brown, the prothoracic shield is light brown / ocher. **
The chrysalis is light brown, ocher. **

The larvae feed inside the roots of Artemisia vulgaris (mugwort).


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** Bestimmungshilfe für die in Europa nachgewiesenen Schmetterlingsarten - http://lepiforum.de/