Ypsolophidae : Ypsolphinae
Ypsolopha ustella
YPSOLOPHA ustella (Clerck, 1759)
Ypsolopha ustella
YPSOLOPHA ustella (Clerck, 1759)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Vernacular Name: Variable Smudge
Wingspan: 15-20mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - (not Croatia,Slovenia and several Mediterranean Islands): present in North America
UK Distribution: Common throughout the British Isles
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Oak woodland : Gardens
Similar Species -
Overwinters as: Adult
Observations: As a poorly marked moth it is extremely variable in shades of white,light grey and brown.The moth is usually unicolorous with few markings but with occasional mottling of brown or black.The plain form can be mistaken for the plain form of the similar species.
One form has white longitudinal venation streaks along the full length of the forewing with a ground colour usually in dark brown.
The moth can be disturbed from thick vegetation during the winter and is attracted to light.
Wingspan: 15-20mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - (not Croatia,Slovenia and several Mediterranean Islands): present in North America
UK Distribution: Common throughout the British Isles
UK Conservation Status -
- Common = > 300 10Km squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena ustella (Clerke, 1759)
- Phalaena sylvella (Linnaeus, 1767)
- Not stated in original publication
Habitat: Oak woodland : Gardens
Similar Species -
- Ypsolopha parenthesella (Linnaeus, 1761)
Overwinters as: Adult
Observations: As a poorly marked moth it is extremely variable in shades of white,light grey and brown.The moth is usually unicolorous with few markings but with occasional mottling of brown or black.The plain form can be mistaken for the plain form of the similar species.
One form has white longitudinal venation streaks along the full length of the forewing with a ground colour usually in dark brown.
The moth can be disturbed from thick vegetation during the winter and is attracted to light.
Photo Gallery
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
The larvae feed on Oak (Quercus) leaves, protected beneath a silken web.
The larvae feed on Oak (Quercus) leaves, protected beneath a silken web.
Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species YPSOLOPHA: Original Species Name: Species Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Yponomeutoidea Ypsolophidae Ypsolphinae YPSOLOPHA Latreille 1796 Ypsolopha ustella (Clerke, 1759) - Phalaena sylvella (Linnaeus, 1767) - PHALAENA ustella (Clerke, 1759) = Phalaena radiatella Donovan, 1794 = variella (Hübner, 1796) = fissella (Hübner, 1796) = lutarella (Hübner, 1796) = byssinella (Hübner, 1810-13) = Ypsolopha quinquepunctatus Haworth, 1828 = Ypsolopha lutosus Haworth, 1828 = Ypsolopha flaviciliatus Haworth, 1828 = unitella (Treitschke, 1833) = Ypsolopha rufimitrella Stephens, 1834 = fulvella (Duponchel, 1838) = ochrella (Chambers, 1880) - Icones insectorum rariorum cum nomibus eorum trivialibus, locique e C. Linnæi. - pp. [1-10], Tab. 1-16. Holmiæ: Title Page : pl.3, fig.13 - Not stated in original publication |