DEPRESSARIIDAE: Depressariinae ⁵

Agonopterix alstroemeriana (Clerck, 1759). Adventive. Widespread & Common.

Habitat, seasonality and behaviour ⁶

Found in a wide range of habitats, including roadside verges, waste ground, marshes, riverbanks and native forest. Single brooded, can be found all year round.

Life history ⁶

The larval form grows to around 10 mm and feeds on Hemlock (Conium maculatum), in a slight tube in the leaves, sometimes also the flowers. After pupating, the moths emerge from the soil as adults.

Notes ⁶

Of Palearctic origin, it was first found in North America in 1973 when it was accidentally introduced. The moth is now widespread throughout the northern half of the United States, southern Canada, northern Europe including the UK, and, more recently, New Zealand.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) dhobern, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Agonopterix_alstromeriana.jpg
2. (c) Matt Muir, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Muir
3. (c) Tony Steer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Tony Steer
4. Stainton, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Agonopterix_alstroemeriana_ill.JPG
5. Adapted by Tony Steer from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agonopterix_alstromeriana
6. (c) Tony Steer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNaturalist NZ taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Atlas of Living Australia
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• BugGuide
• Butterflies and Moths of North America
• CalPhotos
• CUIC Insect Images
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• Lepiforum
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• Maryland Moths
• Mass Moths
• Moth Photographers Group
• Moths of North Carolina
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• NBN Atlas
• Pacific Northwest Moths
• UK Moths

iNaturalist NZ Map