Alucitidae
Twenty-plume Moth
ALUCITA hexadactyla Linnaeus, 1758
Twenty-plume Moth
ALUCITA hexadactyla Linnaeus, 1758
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Alternative Name: Many - plumed Moth
Wingspan: 14-16mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : Introduced into North America
UK Distribution: Found throughout most of the British Isles
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Gardens and open woodland
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates in a thin cocoon on the ground
Overwinters as: Adult-hibernates in gardens or sheds, adjacent to the larval food plant.
Observations: Often called the Many-plumed Moth,The Twenty-plume Moth A.Hexadactyla name is somewhat of a misnomer as when the wings are fully splayed out there are six "plumes" on the forewing and six on the hindwing which possibly refers to the species names where "hex or hexa" is pertaining to the figure six.How twenty came into the name leaves one somewhat baffled although I'm sure someone can answer this mystery.
What is certain is the moth is unique, being the only member of the Alucitidae family (Many Plumed Moths) in the British Isles.
The moth is encountered throughout the year in the southern half of the county although it is encountered more frequently in one of the two generations between April-May and late June-early August.
Wingspan: 14-16mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : Introduced into North America
UK Distribution: Found throughout most of the British Isles
UK Conservation Status -
- Common = >300 10Km Squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena hexadactyla Linnaeus, 1758
- Phalaena hexadactyla Linnaeus, 1758
- Europe
Habitat: Gardens and open woodland
Similar Species -
- None
Pupa: Pupates in a thin cocoon on the ground
Overwinters as: Adult-hibernates in gardens or sheds, adjacent to the larval food plant.
Observations: Often called the Many-plumed Moth,The Twenty-plume Moth A.Hexadactyla name is somewhat of a misnomer as when the wings are fully splayed out there are six "plumes" on the forewing and six on the hindwing which possibly refers to the species names where "hex or hexa" is pertaining to the figure six.How twenty came into the name leaves one somewhat baffled although I'm sure someone can answer this mystery.
What is certain is the moth is unique, being the only member of the Alucitidae family (Many Plumed Moths) in the British Isles.
The moth is encountered throughout the year in the southern half of the county although it is encountered more frequently in one of the two generations between April-May and late June-early August.
Photo Gallery
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
Note - Plants hyperlinked in red below take the visitor to the relevant plant page on"Plants for a Future" website
where further information like photos,physical
characteristics,habitats,edible uses,medicinal
uses,cultivation,propagation,range,height etc. are clearly listed.
- Plant Families - in bold red below takes the visitor to the relevant "Lepi-plants" page where other butterflies & moths using the plants below are listed.
- Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle Family
- Lonicera caprifolium - Italian Honeysuckle
- Lonicera periclymenum - Wild Honeysuckle
Larval Food Plants
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Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - ALUCITA: Original Species Name: Species Names: Genus Group Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Alucitoidea Alucitidae ALUCITA Linnaeus, 1758 Alucita hexadactyla Linnaeus, 1758 - Phalaena hexadactyla Linnaeus, 1758 - ALUCITA hexadactyla Linnaeus, 1758 = Orneodes hexadactyla Linnaeus, 1758 = Phalaena hexadactyla Linnaeus, 1758 = Phalaena Alucita hexadactyla Linnaeus, 1758 = Helena hexadactyla Linnaeus, 1758 = Alucita polydactyla Hübner 1813 = Alucita cartereaui Jourdheuille 1883 = Alucita poecilodactyla Stephens 1835 - ALUCITA Linnaeus, 1758-Genus = Euchiradia Hübner 1825 = Rhipidophora Hübner 1822 = Alucitina Heydenreich 1851 = Orneodes Latreille 1796 - Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title Page : p.542 - n.305 - Sweden |