Abrostola canariensis Hampson, 1913


Abrostola canariensis: Adult (e.l. La Gomera 2011/2012) [S] Abrostola canariensis: Adult (e.l. La Gomera, December 2011 - April 2012) [S] Abrostola canariensis: Adult (La Gomera, December 2011) [M] Abrostola canariensis: Adult (La Gomera, December 2011) [M] Abrostola canariensis: Adult (La Gomera, December 2011) [M] Abrostola canariensis: Adult (La Gomera) [M] Abrostola canariensis: Egg on the lower leaf side of Parietaria judaica in the field, La Gomera, Hermigua, December 2011. [M] Abrostola canariensis: Ovum (detail, La Gomera, December 2011) [M] Abrostola canariensis: L1-larva (e.o. La Gomera, December 2011) [S] Abrostola canariensis: L2-larva (e.l. La Gomera, December 2011) [S] Abrostola canariensis: L2 (detail) [S] Abrostola canariensis: L3-larva (La Gomera, December 2011) [S] Abrostola canariensis: Half-grown larva (La Gomera, December 2011) [M] Abrostola canariensis: Half-grown larva (La Gomera, December 2011) [M] Abrostola canariensis: Larva at the beginning of the penultimate instar (La Gomera, December 2011) [M] Abrostola canariensis: Larva in penultimate instar [S] Abrostola canariensis: Larva in penultimate instar (La Gomera, Valle Hermoso, December 2011) [M] Abrostola canariensis: Larva in penultimate instar (La Gomera, Valle Hermoso, December 2011) [M] Abrostola canariensis: Larva after the last moult (La Gomera, Valle Hermoso, December 2011) [S] Abrostola canariensis: Larva after the last moult  [S] Abrostola canariensis: Larva (La Gomera, e.o. December 2011) [S] Abrostola canariensis: Larva in last instar (La Gomera, Valle Hermoso, December 2011) [M] Abrostola canariensis: Larva in last instar (La Gomera, Valle Hermoso, December 2011) [M] Abrostola canariensis: Larva in last instar (La Gomera, Valle Hermoso, December 2011) [M] Abrostola canariensis: Larva in last instar (La Gomera, Valle Hermoso, December 2011) [M] Abrostola canariensis: Larva in last instar (La Gomera, Valle Hermoso, December 2011) [M] Abrostola canariensis: Larva (head) [M] Abrostola canariensis: Larva prior to pupation (darkish discoloured) [S] Abrostola canariensis: Pupa (cocoon opened) [S] Abrostola canariensis: Pupa (cocoon removed) [S] Abrostola canariensis: Pupa (cocoon removed) [S] Abrostola canariensis: Larval habitat near Agulo (La Gomera, December 2011): Parietaria in a wall [N] Abrostola canariensis: Larval habitat near Las Rosas (La Gomera, December 2011) [N] Abrostola canariensis: Habitat in La Gomera (San Sebastian), December 2011. [N]

Host plants:
The caterpillar lives according to literature on Urtica species. I found in December 2011 eggs and caterpillars in La Gomera together with those of Hypena lividalis and Hypena obsitalis on Parietaria judaica on walls. Parietaria (pellitory) is in the Canaries certainly the main larval host plant. Occasionally, caterpillars are expected as indicated in literature on Urtica urens.

Habitat:
Abrostola canariensis inhabits cultural land and dry slopes as well as the sunny edges of laurel forests and bushland. Overall, however, there is a focus on loosely covered rocky slopes and in wall-rich agricultural land (Parietariea!).

Life cycle:
The moths fly in particular (but not exclusively) in the autumn and winter. I met a moth in La Gomera shortly before Christmas 2009. In December 2011, eggs, caterpillars and moths (on lighted buildings) were occasionally found. The caterpillars are found mainly from December to April, but occasionally also at other times.

Remarks:
Abrostola canariensis is endemic to the Canary Islands.



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