Dahlica triquetrella
Dahlica triquetrella
Larva • Portsmouth, Hampshire • © Ian Thirlwell

11.003 BF176

Dahlica triquetrella

(Hübner, [1813])


Description by Ian F. Smith:

Though winged males occur in Europe, only the parthenogenetic wingless female form of Dahlica triquetrella has been recorded in Britain; with confirmed records from Kent, Westmorland and Essex, but it may have been overlooked.

In mainland Europe, its preferred habitat is on algae covered bark of trees on the edges of woods with a southern aspect, but it is also found on algae or lichen on rocks, stones, posts and house walls, and in meadows on moss. The diet of algae and lichen has to be supplemented by dead insects for development to be successful. The adult lives a very short time, so the cased larva or pupa are more likely to be found.


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