Tortricidae

49.103 Aster Straw Phalonidia affinitana (Douglas, 1846)

Local

Similar species:

Forewing: 5 to 6.5mm

Habitats: Tidal rivers and salt-marsh.

Habits: It will fly on sunny afternoons, but more usually in the late evening.

Foodplant: The larva feeds in the flowers on the ripening seed pappus and then mines the upper stem of Sea Aster. It bores down the stem into the rootstock, where in October it overwinters full-fed. In March it pupates in the rootstock or amongst spun tidal debris.