Platyptilia isodactylus Zeller, 1852
 (one synonym: Platyptilia brunneodactyla D. Lucas, 1955)
PTEROPHORINAE,   PTEROPHORIDAE,   PTEROPHORIOIDEA
 
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

These Caterpillars feed on plants in the family ASTERACEAE, including

  • Marsh Ragwort ( Senecio aquaticus ),
  • Ragwort ( Senecio jacobaea ), and
  • Wood Ragwort ( Senecio ovatus ).

    The caterpillars bore into the stems.

    Platyptilia isodactylus
    (Photo: courtesy of Dianne Clarke, Kuratau, New Zealand)

    The adult moth is brown with a dark mark on each forewing, and has a wingspan of about 2.5 cms.

    The species has been found is a native to Eurasia, including

  • China,
  • Denmark,
  • England,
  • Ireland,
  • Wales,

    and in 1999, to control Ragwort, the species was introduced into

  • Australia,
    and also into
  • New Zealand.

    Further reading :

    Philipp C. Zeller,
    Revision der Pterophoriden,
    Linnaea Entomologica,
    Volume 6 (1852), pp. 328-330, No. 4.

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    (written 23 March 2019)