Aethes rubigana

Description

Aethes rubigana, the burdock conch, is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It was described by Treitschke in 1830. It is found in most of Europe, except the Iberian Peninsula and part of the Balkan Peninsula. Outside of Europe, it is found in China (Beijing, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Ningxia), Japan and Russia. The wingspan is 15–19 millimetres (0.59–0.75 in). Adults are on wing from late June to August in western Europe. The larvae feed on the seedheads Arctium species (including Arctium lappa and possibly Arctium minus). Full-grown larvae overwinter from October in a cocoon on the ground or occasionally in the seedhead. Pupation takes place within this cocoon.