| Platyptilia farfarellus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Pterophoridae |
| Genus: | Platyptilia |
| Species: | P. farfarellus |
| Binomial name | |
| Platyptilia farfarellus Zeller, 1867 |
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| Synonyms | |
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Platyptilia farfarellus is a moth of the Pterophoridae family. It is found from central and southern Europe to Asia Minor, Micronesia and Japan (Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu). It is also known from Africa, where it has been recorded from Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa São Tomé & Principe, Tanzania and Uganda.[1]
The length of the forewings is 7-11 mm.
The larvae feed on Calendula arvensis, Calendula officinalis, Callistephus chinensis, Centaurea cyanus, Dahlia pinnata, Emilia flammea, Erigeron canadensis, Erigeron linifolius, Helichrysum bracteatum and Senecio cruentus. They bore into the flower-bud, flower, terminal end of the stem or the fork of the stem of the host plant. When the larva bores into the stem, it makes a tunnel. The larva pupates within the stem or flower.
Some authors consider Platyptilia molopias to be a synonym of Platyptilia farfarellus.[2]