About Scrobipalpa acuminatella (Sircom, 1850)
Scrobipalpa acuminatella is a species of moth in the family Gelechiidae. This moth can be found across most of Europe, and also occurs in Turkey, southern Siberia, Central Asia including Afghanistan, northern Iran, and western Kazakhstan, and Anhui province in China. It has recently been recorded in Canada, specifically in the provinces of Ontario and Québec. The wingspan of Scrobipalpa acuminatella ranges from 10.5 to 14.5 mm (0.41 to 0.57 in). The terminal segment of its labial palpi is shorter than the second segment. The forewings are pointed, particularly in females, and are predominantly dark fuscous with scattered paler scales; they often have an ochreous mix in the disc, and sometimes bear a few blackish scales toward the posterior. The stigmata are darker than the surrounding wing tissue and indistinct, with the first discal stigma positioned beyond the plical stigma. Faint traces of a pale fascia at the three-quarter position of the wing are faintly visible. The hindwings, which are longer than they are broad, are light grey, and sometimes become darker toward the posterior. The larva of the species is grey-greenish with black dots, a brown head, and a pale brown second segment that bears two blackish spots. Adult moths are active on the wing between April and August, with the flight period varying by location. Larvae feed on species in the genera Carduus and Cirsium, including cotton thistle, as well as species in the genus Artemisia, and Serratula tinctoria.
