35.126 Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller, 1873)

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Status and Distribution

Primarily an adventive introduced with its main foodplant (potato). Taken at light on a few occasions suggesting it may possibly be an occasional migrant into southern England.

National Status: Adventive
Bradley & Fletcher no: 825
Photographer: Photo wanted

Provisional map

NBNSYS0100004596

Foodplant and Larval Feeding Signs

Imported Potato (Solanum tuberosum) and has been found feeding as a larva on an imported tomato from the Canary Islands.

In Europe associated with other Solanaceae spp. such as Solanum melongena, S. dulcamara (bittersweet), S. nigrum (black nightshade), Nicotiana glauca, N. tabacum, Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato), and Lycium europaeum.

Habitat

Finding the Moth

Similar Species

August, September