Dolicharthria punctalis

Dolicharthria punctalis, the long-legged china-mark, is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It is the type species of the proposed genus Stenia, which is usually included in Dolicharthria but may be distinct.^[1]

Illustration from John Curtis's British Entomology Volume 6

Dolicharthria punctalis
Adult, Roussillon, France
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Crambidae
Genus:	Dolicharthria
Species:	D. punctalis
Binomial name
Dolicharthria punctalis (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Synonyms
Pyralis punctalis Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775 Stenia punctalis (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) (but see text)

It is found mainly in central and southern Europe, but has been recorded further north. The wingspan is 20–25 mm. The moth flies from May to September depending on the location.

Figs 7 larva after 3rd moult

The caterpillars feed on Centaurea (knapweeds), Plantago (plantain herb), Trifolium (clovers), Artemisia vulgaris (common wormwood) and even the marine eelgrass Zostera marina. Yet other unusual recorded^[2] foods are dry leaves, plant waste, and old roots.