Cochylis roseana 49.134 B&F 962

I was asked yesterday if I could find a topical tip...here is one from Ben.

We have no records for Cochylis roseana in vc46 but it is in surrounding counties.
Of the two Endothenia species we do not have gentianaeana and marginana has not been seen since the 70's
The two Blasobasis species mentioned are common here as is the ubiquitous Light Brown Apple Moth.
Good luck to anyone wishing to search.
Ina

 Cochylis roseana

The larva photographed was found inside a teasel head, from a plant growing alongside the roadside just north of Bristol – collected 8.1.17.
Larvae can be found inside teasel seedheads from autumn onwards. The larva never enters the central cavity. Instead it burrows through the seeds, forming a tough silken tunnel, and leaving holes in many of the seeds. The larva is greenish white, with a green prothoracic plate and brown head.
The larva of Cochylis roseana is best looked for in rough grassland and waysides wherever the foodplant grows plentifully.

To rear through to the adult stage it is best to leave the teasel heads outside until nearer the time of emergence. Any that have been opened and found to contain larvae should be closed back up again, secured with cotton, and enclosing in fine netting, such as stocking material.

Other larvae that may be found within teasel heads include Blastobasis adustella, B. lacticolella, Epiphyas postvittana and the two Endothenia species gentianaeana and marginana.
Of these, postvittana is the only one that might be found burrowing through the seeds. I found a single example of this in a different teasel head from the same plant that the roseana larva above was obtained.

BEN SMART