Crambidae : Pyraustinae
Pyrausta ostrinalis
PYRAUSTA ostrinalis (Hübner,1796)
Pyrausta ostrinalis
PYRAUSTA ostrinalis (Hübner,1796)
Kind permission - © Tim Norriss
Life Cycle Guide - Adult Only
Description
Vernacular Name: Scarce Purple & Gold
Wingspan: 15-21mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - absent from Mediterranean Islands
UK Distribution: Local over much of Britain but mainly to the east of Scotland
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Short grassland on Limestone and Chalk : Coastal grassland
Similar Species -
Observations: Separating the "Pyrausta" species can be challenging although there are some small differences which help divide the moths.This moth is possibly closest to p.purpuralis in appearance but the forewing is narrower,pinker when fresh and the costa slightly concave. The feint subterminal yellow line is straight and fades before reaching costa with p.purpuralis but with this moth it curves towards the postmedian line prior to meeting the costa.
The yellow cross band, which has black edging, starts half way along the dorsum and finished at three quarters along the costa and has a couple of yellow spots under the costa.
The moth flies in sunshine and is attracted to light.
Wingspan: 15-21mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - absent from Mediterranean Islands
UK Distribution: Local over much of Britain but mainly to the east of Scotland
UK Conservation Status -
- Local = 101 - 300 10Km Squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena (Pyralis) ostrinalis (Hübner,1796)
- Phalaena cingulata (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Not Specified
Habitat: Short grassland on Limestone and Chalk : Coastal grassland
Similar Species -
- Pyrausta aurata (Scopoli, 1763)
- Pyrausta purpuralis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Observations: Separating the "Pyrausta" species can be challenging although there are some small differences which help divide the moths.This moth is possibly closest to p.purpuralis in appearance but the forewing is narrower,pinker when fresh and the costa slightly concave. The feint subterminal yellow line is straight and fades before reaching costa with p.purpuralis but with this moth it curves towards the postmedian line prior to meeting the costa.
The yellow cross band, which has black edging, starts half way along the dorsum and finished at three quarters along the costa and has a couple of yellow spots under the costa.
The moth flies in sunshine and is attracted to light.
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.
- Lamiaceae - Labiatae - The Mint Family
- Thymus polytrichus ssp britanicus - Wild Thyme
- Thymus polytrichus ssp britanicus - Wild Thyme
Larval Food Plants
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Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species PYRAUSTA: Original Species Name: Genus Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: Forms: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Pyraloidea Crambidae Pyraustinae PYRAUSTA Schrank, 1802 Pyrausta ostrinalis (Hübner,1796) - Phalaena cingulata (Linnaeus, 1758) - PHALAENA (Pyralis) ostrinalis (Hübner,1796) PYRAUSTA Schrank 1802-Genus = Haematia Hübner 1825 = Syllythria Hübner 1825 - Sammlung europäischer Schmetterlinge / errichtet von Jacob Hübner in Augsburg. By Hübner, Jacob, 1761-1826 Lepidoptera V1 : Pyralidae 1, 11, & 111 : p.17 - f.113 - Not Specified - P.o.puralis La Harpe,1869-extent of dorsal light-coloured markings vary |