Pyroderces argyrogrammos

Pyroderces argyrogrammos
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Cosmopterigidae
Genus:	Pyroderces
Species:	P. argyrogrammos
Binomial name
Pyroderces argyrogrammos (Zeller, 1847)[1]
Synonyms
Cosmopteryx argyrogrammos Zeller, 1847 Pyroderces goldeggiella Herrich-Schäffer, 1853

Pyroderces argyrogrammos is a moth in the Cosmopterigidae family. It is found from central Europe south to the Mediterranean area, the Canary Islands, North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and China. It has recently also been recorded on the Channel Islands.^[2]

The wingspan is 11–17 mm.^[3] Adults are on wing two generations from the end of April to the end of September. A third generation can occur in warm seasons.

The larvae feed on the seed heads of various Asteraceae species, including Carlina, Centaurea and Carduus species. Pupation takes place in between the down of the seeds in a light cocoon.

References

1. Fauna Europaea
2. Faunistic notes on Momphidae, Batrachedridae, Stathmopodidae and Cosmopterigidae from the Maltese Islands
3. UKmoths