Eribidae : Arctiinae
Muslin Moth
DIAPHORA mendica (Clerck, 1759)
Muslin Moth
DIAPHORA mendica (Clerck, 1759)
♂
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: Male 30 - 35mm : Female 36 - 43mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : Russia : Altai : Asia Minor
UK Distribution: England & Wales - Well Distributed : Isle of Man - Rare : Ireland - widespread & Local : Mainland Scotland - very local : Channel Isles - widespread & frequent.
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Open woodland : Downland : Sand-dunes : Gardens : Hedgerows
Similar Species - Female Only
Pupa: Over winters as a pupa in a cocoon situated among plant material
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The male of this species is brown, as seen below, with variable black spots on the forewing and a whitish to grey brown abdomen with feathery antennae.
In Ireland the the abdomen of the male is bramy white or creamy brown.
The male of this species is nocturnal and as such is attracted to the light ,found at the moth trap in realatively low numbers.
Females have white wings which are slightly translucent and a whitish body. They are active during the day and can be found flying in sunshine or resting low down on vegetation.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : Russia : Altai : Asia Minor
UK Distribution: England & Wales - Well Distributed : Isle of Man - Rare : Ireland - widespread & Local : Mainland Scotland - very local : Channel Isles - widespread & frequent.
UK Conservation Status -
- Common = >300 10Km Squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena mendica (Clerck, 1759)
- Phalaena mendica (Clerck, 1759)
- Not given in original publication
Habitat: Open woodland : Downland : Sand-dunes : Gardens : Hedgerows
Similar Species - Female Only
- White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Water Ermine Spilosoma urticae (Esper, 1789)
Pupa: Over winters as a pupa in a cocoon situated among plant material
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The male of this species is brown, as seen below, with variable black spots on the forewing and a whitish to grey brown abdomen with feathery antennae.
In Ireland the the abdomen of the male is bramy white or creamy brown.
The male of this species is nocturnal and as such is attracted to the light ,found at the moth trap in realatively low numbers.
Females have white wings which are slightly translucent and a whitish body. They are active during the day and can be found flying in sunshine or resting low down on vegetation.
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.
- Asteraceae - Compositae - Aster-Daisy - Sunflower Family
- Centauria scabiosa - Greater Knapweed
- Lactuca sativa - Lettuce
- Tanacetum vulgare - Tansy
- Balsaminaceae - Balsam Family
- Ipatiens noli-tangere - Touch-Me-Not
- Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle Family
- Lonicera nigra - Black Honeysuckle
- Lamiaceae - Labiatae - The Mint Family
- Lamium purpureum - Red Dead Nettle
- Stachys sylvatica - Hedge Woundwort
- Lythraceae - Loosestrife Family
- Lythrum salicaria - Purple Loosestrife
- Onagraceae - Evening Primrose Family
- Epilobium angustifolium - Rosebay Willow-herb
- Plantaginaceae - Plantain Family
- Plantago major - Common Plantain
- Plantago media - Hoary Plantain
- Polygonaceae - Docks - Sorrels - Knotweeds - Smartweeds
- Rumex crispus - Curled Dock
- Polypodiaceae - Fern Family
- Pteridium aquilinum - Bracken
- Rosaceae - The Rose Family
- Rubus idaeus - Raspberry
- Rubiaceae - Bedstraw Family
- Galium album - White Bedstraw
- Urticaeae - Nettle Family
- Urtica dioica - Stinging Nettle - Common Nettle
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant families
- Betulaceae - Betula - Birch
- Chenopodiaceae - Atriplex - Orache, Chenopodium - Goosefoots
- Fabaceae - Leguminosea - Trifolium - Clover
- Lamiaceae - Labiatae - Galeopsis - Hemp-nettle
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant families
- Urtica dioica - Stinging Nettle - Common Nettle
Larval Food Plants
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Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - DIAPHORA: Original Species Names: Species Names: Genus Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Eribidae Arctiinae Arctiini DIAPHORA Stephens, 1827 Diaphora mendica (Clerck, 1759) - Phalaena mendica (Clerck, 1759) - PHALAENA mendica (Clerck, 1759) = Bombyx lubricipeda Poda, 1761 = Diacrisia inversa Caradja, 1898 = Diacrisia binaghii Turati, 1910 = sabulosa Derenne, 1929 = circumpunctata Cockayne, 1949 = lineata Cockayne, 1951 = Diacrisia mendica. - DIAPHORA Stephens, 1827 = Cycnia Hübner 1818 - Icones insectorum rariorum cum nomibus eorum trivialibus, locique e C. Linnæi. - pp. [1-10], Tab. 1-16. Holmiæ : Title Page : pl.3, Fig.5 - Not given in original publication - D.m.f.binaghii Turati, 1910 - Light coffee colour- male only D.m.f.rustica Hübner, 1790 - creamy yellow D.m.f.multipuncta Meves, 1914 - wings covered in spots - female only D.m.f.radiata Cockayne, 1949 - black streaks on wings -female only |