Coleophora lessinica Baldizzone, 1980

Takacs, Attila, Szaboky, Csaba, Boldog, Gusztav, Jordan, Sandor, Bozso, Miklos, Fueloep, David & Toth, Balazs, 2022, Biology and DNA barcode analysis of Coleophora lessinica Baldizzone, 1980 and Coleophora impalella Toll, 1961 (Lepidoptera, Coleophoridae) with description of their larval cases, Nota Lepidopterologica 45, pp. 191-205 : 191

Coleophora lessinica Baldizzone, 1980

Larval morphology and recorded host plants.

Case and larval behaviour.

Initial case is made of a dry inflorescence of A. alba . The larva consumes the centre of the inflorescence, remaining parts are strengthened with silk (Fig. 12 ) and thus the remains of the inflorescence retain their original shape. Depending on its size, up to three or four larvae can feed on the same individual plant. Several inflorescences are consumed in the protection of this case, then the larva in L4 stage prepares a tubular silk case beneath the older one. Later on, the achaenia fall off from the tubular case (Figs 13 , 14 ), and the larva seeks a still intact inflorescence, attaches the case to it, chews itself inside the inflorescence, and performs its last moult in this shelter. Finally, it descends to the base of the host plant and attaches its case to it.

The mouth of case is at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the case. Anal end of case is trivalved. Colour of case is light brown before overwintering, becoming dark brown after winter.

Overwintering happens at the base of the host plant. The larva climbs on the stem up to the basal-most leaves during August and September. There it attaches its case permanently to the stem, and this is the place where the larva turns around inside the case.

The early case, as well as the overwintering one, is very similar to that of Coleophora absinthii Wocke, 1877 (Figs 15-17 ), but the early case of C. lessinica is constructed from only one inflorescence while that of C. absinthii is made of three flower heads that are unified before preparing the final, overwintering case.

L5 larva

(Figs 1-5 ). Length 3 mm. Head brown. Body light brown. Thoracic shields (Fig. 1 ) and spiracular sclerites (Fig. 2 ) not sclerotised. Thoracic legs uniform light brown as body (Fig. 3 ). Prolegs on segments A3-A6 with 12-18 crochets in two uniordinal rows; distribution of crochets asymmetrical (Fig. 5 ). Anal plate shiny brown (Fig. 4 ). Anal proleg half-moon-shaped, each with 11 crochets.

Habitat.

The habitats of C. lessinica differ from each other in terms of bedrock. The bedrock in the habitats of Eastern Bakony Mountains ( Kőszárhegy, Várpalota), the Balaton Uplands ( Litér, Balatonfüred) and the Villány Mountains ( Nagyharsány) is limestone, that of the Vértes Mountains ( Csákvár, Csákberény, Gánt-Gránás) is dolomite. The bedrock affects the species ofplant associations, but the association-forming species everywhere in these habitats is A. alba ( Borhidi 2003).

Figures

Figures 12 - 17. Cases of C. lessinica and C. absinthii. 12. Flower case of C Coleophora lessinica. Csakbereny, Bucka-hegy, 20. x. 2020, on Artemisia alba; 13. Sheath case before overwintering of C. lessinica. Csakbereny, Bucka-hegy, 27. x. 2020, on A. alba; 14. Sheath case before overwintering of C. lessinica. Csakbereny, Bucka-hegy, 20. x. 2020, on A. alba; 15. Flower case of C. absinthii. Pakozd, 25. viii. 2021, on A. absinthium. The larva is feeding in the third inflorescence, which will be incorporated to its case; 16. Flower case of C. absinthii. Pettend, 30. viii. 2021, on A. absinthium; 17. Sheath case before overwintering of C. absinthii. Pettend, 04. ix. 2021, on A. absinthium. Scale bars: 0.5 mm, photos by Attila Takacs.

Figures 1 - 5. Larval morphology of Coleophora lessinica. 1. Head and thorax, dorsal view; 2. Head and thorax, lateral view; 3. Head and thorax, ventral view; 4. Prolegs, ventral view; 5. Anal plate, dorso-lateral view. Scale bar: 1 mm, cranial direction top, caudal direction bottom, photos by A. Takacs.