[2] Separated from similar species by the numerous longitudinal black streaks emanating from central area of discmost terminating at fascia at 3/4 but always finishing before the termen and closely following the venation.

They feed on the flowers and developing seeds, defending their territory by enclosing an umbel in silk, while safely metabolizing the ingested furocoumarins.

A.H. Haworth, on establishing the genus Depressaria in his 1811 issues of Lepidoptera Britannica, called the eventual type species Phalaena heraclei, an unjustified emendation of P. (Tortrix) heracliana.

Retzius, who in 1783 had believed the parsnip moth to be a species originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758.

[5] When the error of Retzius, Haworth and others was realized, it was assumed that the parsnip moth was only validly described (as Haemilis pastinacella) by P.A.J.

Over the time of D. pastinacella's presence in North America, parsnips (Pastinaca sativa) have evolved steadily higher amounts of sphondin production.