Blastobasis adustella

{{short description|Species of moth}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = DSC06882 British Moths Blastobasidae Blastobasis adustella.jpg

| image_caption = Adult from Lincolnshire (UK)

| taxon = Blastobasis adustella

| authority = Walsingham, 1894

| synonyms = {{collapsible list|

  • Blastobasis lignea auct. non Walsingham, 1894: misidentification
  • Blastobasis sarcophaga Meyrick 1902
  • Blastobasis xanthographella Rebel 1940

}}}}

Blastobasis adustella is a species of moth of the family Blastobasidae. It is endemic to Australian region, but was introduced in western Europe and is now reported from The Netherlands, Great Britain, Ireland, Madeira and the Azores

Description

The wingspan is 15–20 mm. Adults are on wing from August to September.

The larvae feed on a variety of foodstuffs, including decaying vegetable matter as well as the seedheads of wild teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) in Europe.{{cite web |last1=Kimber |first1=Ian |title=41.002 BF873 Blastobasis adustella Walsingham, 1894 |url=https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/blastobasis-adustella/ |website=UKmoths |accessdate=10 May 2020}}

Taxonomy

The name Blastobasis lignea has often been used for records now considered as Blastobasis adustella.[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309825210_Karsholt_O_Sinev_SYu_Contribution_to_the_Lepidoptera_fauna_of_the_Madeira_Islands_Part_4_Blastobasidae_Beitrage_zur_Entomologie_2004_Bd54_Hf2_S387-463 Karsholt O. & Sinev S.Yu. (2004) Contribution to the Lepidoptera fauna of the Madeira Islands Part 4: Blastobasidae. Beitr. Ent. 54(2): 387–463.] A taxonomic revision by Karsholt & Sinev reclassifies Walsingham's original B. lignea specimen as Blastobasis vittata, making lignea properly the junior synonym of vittata. B. adustella was originally described by Walshingham as a variety of B. lignea.

References

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