Mine: August-May;June-July

Notes: In September feeds on the basal leaves of the plant and overwinters as a larva. In June and July feeds in the flowerhead on the seeds and then bores down into the stem.Beavan & Heckford (2023) found larvae feeding in the middle section of stems of Knautia arvensis (Field Scabious) - a new host plant. The larvae appeared to have entered into leaf axils, judging by the extruded frass (as shown). They conclude that the larvae of the second generation appear to have a different feeding method depending on whether they are on Knautia arvensis or Scabiosa columbaria and Succisa pratenis. Further investigations need to be undertaken to see if this applies also to the first generation on Knautia arvensis.

National Status: Nationally Scarce B

Bradley No: 1161

Data: 22.viii.2022, Coult., Darland, Kent, VC15

Image:© S. D. Beavan & R. J. Heckford

References:
Beavan SD and Heckford RJ (2023) - Discovery of the larva of Rhopobota stagnana ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) (Lep.: Tortricidae) feeding on Knautia arvensis (L.) Coult. in the British Isles.Entomologist’s Rec. J. Var. 135(3), 113-114
Bradley JD, Tremewan WG and Smith A (1979) - British Tortricoid Moths; Tortricidae:Olethreutinae, 140-141
Langmaid JR, Palmer SM and Young MR (2018) - A Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of Great Britain and Ireland