Argyresthia pygmaeella
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Argyresthia pygmaeella |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Argyresthia pygmaeella | ||||||||||||
| ( Denis & Schiffermüller , 1775) |
Argyresthia pygmaeella is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of spider moths and bud moths (Yponomeutidae).
features
The moths reach a wingspan of ten to 13 millimeters. The head is ocher-colored to white, the forehead has a metallic white sheen. The antennae are ringed dark brown and whitish, the basal segment (scapus) is pale ocher. The labial palps have a metallic white sheen. The thorax is pale brass-colored, the scales on the wing joint of the mesothorax (tegulae) are golden. The front wings are pale brass-colored and shiny, the wires R4 and R5 are separated. There is a square spot on the wing's trailing edge, which is connected to the base astride by a wide line. This occasionally extends diffusely beyond the stain in the middle of the wing. Another, wider gold-colored drawing runs from the middle of the wing to about 75 percent of the wing. A third golden spot is located in the anal angle (tornus), this sometimes extends diffusely to the wing tip. The fringes have the same color as the adjacent wing areas. The hind wings are gray and darker at the wing tip ( apex ). The legs have a metallic white sheen, the front legs are colored brown on top. The abdomen is gray.
The larvae reach a length of up to eleven millimeters and have a green body. The head as well as the prothoracic and anal plates are dark brown to black.
distribution
The species is widespread in Europe with the exception of the Iberian Peninsula and Greece . The distribution area extends in the east to Russia and eastern Siberia . The species is also represented in North America, where it was found in Michigan and Seattle as well as in Canada . The North American moths of this species do not differ from their European representatives.
Way of life
The females lay their eggs on pastures. The approximately eleven millimeters long dark brown caterpillars feed on the young shoots and catkins of willow ( Salix spec. ). The caterpillars overwinter in leaf buds until April and then mine inside of young shoots, which then wither. The caterpillars pupate from May to June on their food plants or on the ground.
Flight time
The species forms a generation that flies from June to August. The moths are nocturnal and are attracted to light.
Systematics
Argyresthia pygmaeella is known in the literature under the following synonyms:
- Tinea pygmaeella Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775
- Tinea rudolphella Esper, 1791
The type locality of the species is the area around Vienna in Austria .
swell
- ↑ a b c d A. M. Emmet (Ed.): The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Volume 3. Yponomeutidae, Roeslerstammiidae, Epermeniidae, Schreckensteiniidae, Coleophoridae, Elachistidae. Harley Books 1996, ISBN 0-946589-43-7
Web links
- www.lepiforum.de
- Argyresthia pygmaeella at Fauna Europaea
- Markku Savela: Lepidoptera and some other life forms (English)
- Collection of the Natural History Museum Stockholm (Swedish)
- Guide to the moths of Great Britain and Ireland (English)
- University of Alberta EH Strickland Entomological Museum (English)