Chalk Rose Bell
Common NameChalk Rose Bell
Scientific NameEucosma cana
FamilyTortricidae
SubfamilyOlethreutinae
Wingspan (mm)18
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorswhite, brown, black, reddish-brown
HabitatGrasslands, meadows, waste ground, gardens, areas with thistles
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, Asia Minor, Central Asia, North America
Host PlantsCirsium spp. (thistles), Carduus spp. (thistles)
Flight PeriodJune to September
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed internally within the flowerheads or stems of various thistle species. Pupation occurs in a cocoon in the soil or among plant debris.
Identification TipsKey features include the broad, irregular whitish central fascia on the forewing, contrasting with dark brown and reddish-brown markings, and its association with thistles.
Description
A small, cryptically patterned moth with a mottled appearance of white, brown, black, and reddish-brown. It features a distinctive broad whitish band across the middle of the forewing.
