Pyrausta despicata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Genus: Pyrausta
Species:
P. despicata
Binomial name
Pyrausta despicata
Synonyms
  • Phalaena despicata Scopoli, 1763
  • Herbula picarialis Walker, 1866
  • Pyrausta despicata ifranalis Leraut, 2001
  • Phalaena Tortrix koenigiana O. F. Müller, 1764
  • Pyralis cespitalis Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775
  • Pyralis coespitalis A. Costa, 1843
  • Pirausta intermedialis Duponchel, 1833
  • Pyrausta cespitalis ab. hafneri Rebel, 1916
  • Pyrausta Pyralis cespitalis yangtsealis Caradja, 1938
  • Pyralis sordialis Thunberg, 1784
  • Pyralis sordidalis Hübner, 1796
  • Pyrausta cespitalis ab. extincta Skala, 1928
  • Pyrausta despicata f. hispanalis Dufrane, 1957
  • Pyrausta tendinosalis Bremer, 1864
  • Pyrausta vestianella Clerck, 1764
  • Pyrausta zonana Panzer, 1804

Pyrausta despicata, the straw-barred pearl, is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It was described by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in his 1763 Entomologia Carniolica.

Description

The wingspan of Pyrausta despicata can reach 14–19 mm.[1][2] The wings are brown or greyish, with quite variable pale brown markings. The forewings are brownish grey or brown, sometimes blackish-sprinkled; first line obscurely pale or obsolete; second in pale greyish-ochreous, often obsolete except on costa, in male whitish-ochreous, dilated on costa; small orbicular and oval discal spot rather darker, in female sometimes separated by a pale spot; sometimes a pale subterminal streak. Hindwings in male grey in female blackish; sometimes a darker discal dot; a curved postmedian fascia and subterminal streak in male obscurely ochreous-whitish, in female whitish-ochreous. The larva is dull brownish-black; dorsal line double, grey; spiracular dull ochreous; spots black, grey circled; head and plate of 2 brown, darker-freckled [3]

Figs. 2, 2a larvae in various stages of growth 2b enlargement of two segments

The moth flies from May to September depending on the location, in two generations.[1] It is active in the sunshine and at dusk.[4] The larvae feed on Plantago lanceolata and Plantago major.[1]

Distribution

Pyrausta despicata is present in most of Europe.[5]

Habitat

This moth prefers chalky and limestone habitats.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 UKMoths
  2. ↑ Norfolk Moths
  3. ↑ Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description
  4. ↑ Lepidoptera of Belgium
  5. ↑ Fauna Europaea


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.