| Dolicharthria punctalis | |
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| Adult, Roussillon, France | |
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| Species: | D. punctalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Dolicharthria punctalis (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) | |
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Dolicharthria punctalis, the long-legged china-mark, is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It is the type species of the proposed genus Stenia, which is usually included in Dolicharthria but may be distinct.[1]

Illustration from John Curtis's British Entomology Volume 6
It is found mainly in central and southern Europe, but has been recorded further north. The wingspan is 20–25 mm. The moth flies from May to September depending on the location.

Figs 7 larva after 3rd moult
The caterpillars feed on Centaurea (knapweeds), Plantago (plantain herb), Trifolium (clovers), Artemisia vulgaris (common wormwood) and even the marine eelgrass Zostera marina. Yet other unusual recorded[2] foods are dry leaves, plant waste, and old roots.
Footnotes
References
- Grabe, Albert (1942): Eigenartige Geschmacksrichtungen bei Kleinschmetterlingsraupen ["Strange tastes among micromoth caterpillars"]. Zeitschrift des Wiener Entomologen-Vereins 27: 105-109. (in German) PDF fulltext
- Savela, Markku (2009): Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms – Dolicharthria. Version of May 16, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
External links
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