Species Details

Ypsolopha dentella

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »

SeasonalityIn Europe adults fly in July and August. In North America adults were captured in July. Specimens are attracted to light. IdentificationHead white, antennae banded with brown on each segment, labial palpi porrect, dorsally white, ventrally brown. Thorax white, tegulae and metathorax brown. Legs brown. Forewings strongly hooked, a characteristic shared by many species in the genus Ypsolopha. Dorsal surface of forewings brown, white on the basal one third of the wing, extending lengthwise, but not reaching the external wing margin. There is a well-defined, whitish "spine" pointing upwards and away from the wing base. Hindwings uniformly dark grey. Ventral wing surfaces are grey. Ypsolopha dentella can be confused with two species in Alberta. The first one is Y. canariella, which has yellow scales instead of white, the basal white band on forewings reaches the external wing margin and it lacks a "spine". The second one is Plutella xylostella, which has a wavy basal band and narrower hingwings with longer fringes. In fact, many early workers such as Meyrick and Ford confused these two species with one another (Alford 1971). However, they can be separated from one another based on the size (P. xylostella is much smaller than Y. dentella), lack of hooked wings on P. xylostella and absence of the characteristic projections that form the "diamond back" of P. xylostella when it rests with its wings closed (Alford 1971).

Scientific Name Ypsolopha dentella Habitat A wide variety of habitats, ranging from forested areas to prairies, creeks and gardens, wherever its host plant occurs. Seasonality In Europe adults fly in July and August. In North America adults were captured in July. Specimens are attracted to light. Identification
Head white, antennae banded with brown on each segment, labial palpi porrect, dorsally white, ventrally brown. Thorax white, tegulae and metathorax brown. Legs brown. Forewings strongly hooked, a characteristic shared…
Head white, antennae banded with brown on each segment, labial palpi porrect, dorsally white, ventrally brown. Thorax white, tegulae and metathorax brown. Legs brown. Forewings strongly hooked, a characteristic shared by many species in the genus Ypsolopha. Dorsal surface of forewings brown, white on the basal one third of the wing, extending lengthwise, but not reaching the external wing margin. There is a well-defined, whitish "spine" pointing upwards and away from the wing base. Hindwings uniformly dark grey. Ventral wing surfaces are grey. Ypsolopha dentella can be confused with two species in Alberta. The first one is Y. canariella, which has yellow scales instead of white, the basal white band on forewings reaches the external wing margin and it lacks a "spine". The second one is Plutella xylostella, which has a wavy basal band and narrower hingwings with longer fringes. In fact, many early workers such as Meyrick and Ford confused these two species with one another (Alford 1971). However, they can be separated from one another based on the size (P. xylostella is much smaller than Y. dentella), lack of hooked wings on P. xylostella and absence of the characteristic projections that form the "diamond back" of P. xylostella when it rests with its wings closed (Alford 1971).
Life History
Young larvae are green and inconspicuous. Older larvae change colour and become pinkish-red on the dorsal surface (I. Kimber, web reference). Feeding occurs in a loose web. Pupation takes place in elongated silken…
Young larvae are green and inconspicuous. Older larvae change colour and become pinkish-red on the dorsal surface (I. Kimber, web reference). Feeding occurs in a loose web. Pupation takes place in elongated silken cocoons among debris on the ground.
Conservation This is an introduced species in North America, currently spreading northward and westward (Pohl et al. 2005). Diet Info Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) (Alford 1971; Pohl et al. 2005). Range Widespread throughout Eurasia. It has been accidentally introduced into North America and it is now established in Alberta (Olds) (Pohl et al. 2005) and Ontario (Ottawa area) (L. Scott, web reference).

Citation

Page Citation for Ypsolopha dentella

Page Citation

"Species Details - Ypsolopha dentella, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-6413. Accessed 08 Dec. 2024.

References

Specimen Information

There are 2 specimens of this Species.

2 results plotted on map in 1 marker.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

BIRD16740 - Ypsolopha dentella

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Olds Collected ByMengersen, E. Date Collected1998-08-14/1998-08-15

BIRD16741 - Ypsolopha dentella

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Olds Collected ByMengersen, E. Date Collected1999-08-18/1999-08-16

Adult Seasonal Distribution