Food Plant: Centaurea scabiosa (Greater Knapweed), C.nigra sl (Common Knapweed)

Mine: August-September

Notes: After intially forming narrow mines along the midrib, with diverticula besides veins, blotches are formed, within which frass is deposited. The larvae are intially a pale yellowish to yellowish brown but then change colour shortly before pupation. They form crimson dorsal and subdorsal linesalong the body. Pupation is external. the pupa is reddish to yellowish brown (Beavan & Heckford, 2024). The cremaster has about a dozen slightly curved setae which have tips curled backwards (as shown). A rare leaf miner formerly Scrobipalpa pauperella.

Data: ex mine 25.vii.2022, Dover, Kent, VC15

Image:© S.D. Beavan & R.J. Heckford