Thursday 4 October 2012

Gymnancyla canella

A rare species but easy to find if it's present. The larva feeds on Prickly Saltwort Salsola kali and is reputed to be the only species to do so, although there are bound to be some polyphagous species that will use it occasionally. The larva feeds initially in the stem or a side shoot but later may feed externally in a web which is made conspicuous by the sand grains that become trapped in it.

                                                                        Larval web



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