Esperia oliviella

Esperia oliviella
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Oecophoridae
Genus:	Esperia
Species:	E. oliviella
Binomial name
Esperia oliviella (Fabricius, 1794)
Synonyms
Dasycera oliviella (Fabricius, 1794) Oecophora oliviella (Fabricius, 1794) Tinea aemulella Hübner, 1796

Esperia oliviella is a species of gelechioid moth from Europe and the Near East. In its superfamily, it is placed in the genus Esperia within the subfamily Oecophorinae of the concealer moth family (Oecophoridae). Some authors, in particular those that follow a "splitting" approach to gelechioidea systematics and taxonomy, recognize Dasycera as an independent genus. The present species is thus not infrequently listed as Dasycera oliviella; indeed, it is (under its junior synonym Tinea aemulella) the type species of Dasycera.

Description and ecology

The wingspan is about 15 millimetres (0.59 in). At a casual glance, this species resembles its widespread relative E. sulphurella, being largely black, with a white band half-way across the thick antennae and yellowish forewing markings. Of these, the band across the midwing is not interrupted however, and the proximal lengthwise mark is a shorter triangle rather than a long streak. After eclosion and some time thereafter, E. oliviella also has a pronounced purplish sheen which is far less conspicuous in E. sulphurella even if freshly eclosed.

It inhabits old-growth woodland. Though not generally uncommon, at the periphery of its range it is a rare sight. For example, in the UK its only significant populations are in the south and southeast of England, the regions closest to the European continent. Adults are on the wing around June and July (depending on locality) and are diurnal, though they avoid the hot period around noon. The caterpillars feed on rotting wood, especially of hazels (Corylus), Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) and oaks (Quercus).

References

• Fauna Europaea (FE) (2009a): Dasycera. Version 2.1, 2009-DEC-22. Retrieved 2010-APR-27.
• Fauna Europaea (FE) (2009b): Esperia. Version 2.1, 2009-DEC-22. Retrieved 2010-APR-27.
• Grabe, Albert (1942): Eigenartige Geschmacksrichtungen bei Kleinschmetterlingsraupen ["Strange tastes among micromoth caterpillars"]. Zeitschrift des Wiener Entomologen-Vereins 27: 105-109 [in German]. PDF fulltext
• Kimber, Ian [2010]: UKMoths – Esperia oliviella. Retrieved 2010-APR-27.
• Pitkin, Brian & Jenkins, Paul (2004a): Butterflies and Moths of the World, Generic Names and their Type-species – Dasycera. Version of 2004-NOV-05. Retrieved 2010-APR-27.
• Pitkin, Brian & Jenkins, Paul (2004b): Butterflies and Moths of the World, Generic Names and their Type-species – Esperia. Version of 2004-NOV-05. Retrieved 2010-APR-27.
• Savela, Markku (2003): Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and some other life forms – Esperia. Version of 2003-DEC-29 Retrieved 2010-APR-27.

External links

• Lepidoptera of Belgium