Depressaria depressana

(Fabricius, 1775)

Purple Carrot-seed Moth, Blunt's Flat-body

Depressaria depressana is a small in the Depressariidae, to Eurasia and to North America around 2008–2009. It is a family-level of Apiaceae, feeding on reproductive structures of wild carrot, parsnip, and related umbellifers. The has undergone rapid range expansion in eastern North America, exhibiting higher genetic diversity and capacity than its D. radiella. are active from spring through early fall with multiple per year in warmer regions.

Depressaria depressana by (c) aarongunnar, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by aarongunnar. Used under a CC-BY license.

Depressaria depressana by (c) Nick Block, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nick Block. Used under a CC-BY license.

Depressaria depressana 1 by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Depressaria depressana: /dɛˌprɛsˈɑːriə dɛˌprɛsˈænə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from the related Depressaria radiella (parsnip ) by broader range across multiple tribes of Apiaceae rather than restriction to Pastinaca and Heracleum. D. depressana exhibits lower detoxification metabolism than D. radiella. Genetic analysis may be required for definitive identification where ranges overlap.

Images

Appearance

Small with wingspan of 14–20 mm. have narrow, somewhat flattened held close to the body at rest, consistent with the 'flat-body'. Coloration and pattern details are not specified in available sources.

Habitat

Associated with plants in the Apiaceae. are found on umbels of wild carrot (Daucus carota) and related . Specific requirements beyond host presence are not documented.

Distribution

to most of Europe, the Near East, North Africa, and the eastern Palearctic. In North America, first documented in 2008–2009 and now established from New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, with ongoing range expansion in eastern United States.

Seasonality

active from March to May in northern Europe with one . with activity from late spring to early fall in central Illinois. Two generations in the northern Caucasus; up to three generations in southern Ukraine.

Diet

of Apiaceae. feed on reproductive structures (umbels, seeds) of Daucus carota, Pimpinella, Pastinaca sativa, Seseli, Peucedanum oreoselinum, and Zizia aurea. Highest feeding observed on Daucus carota.

Host Associations

Daucus carota - larval wild carrot; highest feeding
Pastinaca sativa - larval parsnip/wild parsnip
Pimpinella - larval level
Seseli - larval level
Peucedanum oreoselinum - larval level
Zizia aurea - larval North ; fruits consumed
Heracleum maximum - larval cow-parsnip

Life Cycle

with number of varying by latitude: one generation in northern Europe, two in the northern Caucasus, and up to three in southern Ukraine. Detailed developmental stages are not documented in available sources.

Behavior

feed on developing seeds in umbels of plants. exhibit rapid capacity with low genetic structuring across geographic distances, indicating high ability. Lower detoxification metabolism compared to the D. radiella.

Ecological Role

of and Apiaceae in North America. As a newly , it may exert selection pressure on and potentially threaten native North umbellifers. Its broad host range contrasts with the narrow specialization of D. radiella, offering a comparative model for herbivore management.

Human Relevance

Potential agricultural pest of carrot and parsnip . Its recent invasion of North America (since 2008–2009) has prompted research into its genetics and relationships to inform management strategies.

Similar Taxa

Depressaria radiella with similar ; distinguished by narrower range restricted primarily to Pastinaca and Heracleum, higher metabolism, and slower historical range expansion in North America
Other Depressariidae members share flattened body form; identification to level requires examination of associations, genetic analysis, or dissection

More Details

Invasion History

First reported in North America in 2008, with scientific documentation in 2015. Has expanded its range more rapidly than D. radiella, which took over 160 years for comparable westward expansion.

Genetic Diversity

COI haplotype analysis reveals higher genetic diversity in North than in the D. radiella, suggesting multiple introductions, genetically diverse founding population, or high ongoing .