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Tag Archives: moth larvae in Teasel seed heads

Cochylis roseana

08 Tuesday Oct 2024

Posted by sconzani in insects, plants

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Tags

British moths, Cochylis roseana, moth larvae, moth larvae in Teasel, moth larvae in Teasel seed heads, Teasel

Last Thursday’s blog was about finding an Endothenia marginana larva in a Teasel seedhead. While checking those particular Teasels, I also found the subjects of today’s blog, the larvae of another moth, Cochylis roseana. As its name suggests, the adult is a rather gorgeous rosy coloured moth, though the UK Moths website says that the rosy colour is not always prominent.

241008 Cochylis roseana (1)

As you can see, the larvae, which are white with a greenish tinge, don’t live within the centre space of the Teasel seedhead like the Endothenia, but rather munch their way through the Teasel’s seeds, creating tunnels that circle the centre. The seedhead I opened contained at least three larvae but here may have been more lurking in their hidey holes.

241008 Cochylis roseana (2)

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Inside a Teasel seed head

31 Monday Jan 2022

Posted by sconzani in insects, plants

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Tags

Endothenia gentianaeana larvae, Endothenia marginana larvae, Endothenia moth species, insects in Teasel seed heads, moth larvae in Teasel seed heads, Teasel, Teasel seed heads

I’ve never looked inside a Teasel seed head before but I’m glad I braved the spines for a peek because each of the three I pulled open were occupied and, judging by the amount of frass, they’d been occupied for some time.

220131 Endothenia sp (1)

I think these are the larvae of one of the Endothenia species of moth, either E. marginana or E. gentianaeana, the former presumably being the more likely as there are more records of that species in south Wales. However, to be sure which is which you need to check each larva’s rear end to see if it has an anal comb. Not knowing this, I didn’t.

220131 Endothenia sp (2)

If you want to learn more about that anal comb, there’s a very detailed description, and clear photos, of the larvae of these two Endothenia species on the UK Moths website (E. marginana here and E. gentianaeana here). And, just to reassure you, I was able to close the seed heads (and wound stems of long grass around them, which should hopefully keep them closed so the larvae can complete their lifecycles) (I read later of someone who uses small rubber bands for the same purpose).

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About me

sconzani

sconzani

I'm a writer and photographer; researcher and blogger; birder and nature lover; countryside rambler and city strider; volunteer and biodiversity recorder.

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