72.067 : 2470 : 9006
Erebidae : Boletobiinae

Small Purple-barred

PHYTOMETRA viridaria (Clerck, 1759)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description

Wingspan: 19 - 20mm
Worldwide Distribution: Central & Southern Europe : Mauritania : Morocco : Algeria : Tunisa : Armenia : Iraq : Iran : Afghanistan : Pakistan : S.Siberia
UK Distribution: Central sounthern & south-east England, Wales and Ireland - Fairly well distributed but low numbers : Rest of England and Isle of Man & Inner Hebrides - local : Channel Isles - Local and rare
UK Conservation Status -
  • Local = 101 - 300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena viridaria (Clerck, 1759)
Type Species - Phytometra
  • Noctua aenea ([Denis & Schiffermuller], 1775)
Type Locality -
  • Not given in original publication
Flight Period: Southern England - possible partial second brood - Mid April to mid June & late June to August : Elsewhere - single generation Late May to July
Habitat: Heathland : Calcareous grasslands : Moorland : Woodland rides : Coastal sand dunes
Similar Species -
  • Pyrausta despicata (Scopoli, 1763)
Larva: The final instar larva are green with darker dorsal line with thin yellowish green subdorsal lines and an orange coloured spot at the eighth abdominal segment.The spiracular line is yellowish green.Head is pale green.
Pupa: Overwinters in a tough cocoon formed among plant debris
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: This pretty little moth is unmistakeable with the two purplish cross lines showing up against the dull olive-brown forewing.
There is a purplish costal band that extends from the median cross line around the wing and just behind the head.
The moth is a day flyer where it can be found flying low in short heather situated near grassland where Heath Milkwort can be found.
It is quite an early moth found from April onwards where in southern England it possibly has two broods from April to June and late June to August but usually only found in small numbers.

Although diurnal this moth is known to fly at night and is attracted to light.
Photo Gallery
Typical Habitat
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.
Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
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Type Species - PHYTOMETRA:

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Literary Ref:


Type Locality:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Erebidae
Boletobiinae
PHYTOMETRA Haworth, 1809
Phytometra viridaria (Clerck, 1759)
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Noctua aenea ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
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PHALAENA viridaria (Clerck, 1759)
= Phalaena purpurata Linnaeus, 1761
= Phalaena laccata Scopoli, 1763
= Phalaena lanceata Scopoli, 1763
= Noctua aenea Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775
= Noctua olivacea Vieweg, 1790
= Phytometra latruncula Esper, [1791]
= Phytometra suffusa Tutt, 1892
= Phytometra fusca Tutt, 1892
= Phytometra purpurina Vorbrodt, 1917
= Phytometra hoffmanni Staudinger, 1924
= Phytometra faecata Staudinger, 1924
= Phytometra lunghali Nordström, 1933
= Phytometra lutargina Schawerda & Stättermayer, 1934
= Phytometra semipurpurea Kiefer, 1941
= Phytometra reducta Lempke, 1949
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Icones insectorum rariorum cum nomibus eorum trivialibus, locique e C. Linnæi. - pp. [1-10], Tab. 1-16. Holmiæ : Title Page :  pl.9, Fig.12
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Not given in original publication