Crambidae : Scopariinae
Eudonia mercurella
EUDONIA mercurella (Linnaeus, 1758)
Eudonia mercurella
EUDONIA mercurella (Linnaeus, 1758)
Life Cycle Guide-Imago Only
Description
Vernacular Name: Small Grey
Wingspan: 16-19mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe
UK Distribution: Resident : Fairly common and widespread throughout most of Britain : Local in northern Scotland.
UK Conservation Status -
Flight Period: South-Late April-September : Elsewhere-June-September-single generation
Habitat: Woodland : Moorland : Heathland : Gardens : Scrub
Similar Species:-
Observations: Another of the Scopariidae, this moth is difficult to distinguish from its similar species E.acustrata, especially when worn.
The forewing background colour is white with dark markings. The antemedial and postmedial cross-lines are white. Beyond the postmedial cross-line are two white "x" marks adjacent to the termen.
The moth forewing are generally dark and in the area between the cross-lines are two distinctive black x's
The moth is easily disturbed during the day and is also attracted to light.
Wingspan: 16-19mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe
UK Distribution: Resident : Fairly common and widespread throughout most of Britain : Local in northern Scotland.
UK Conservation Status -
- Common = >300 10Km Squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena (Tinea) mercurella Linnaeus, 1758
- Phalaena murcurella Linnaeus, 1758
Flight Period: South-Late April-September : Elsewhere-June-September-single generation
Habitat: Woodland : Moorland : Heathland : Gardens : Scrub
Similar Species:-
- Eudonia lacustrata Panzer, 1804
Observations: Another of the Scopariidae, this moth is difficult to distinguish from its similar species E.acustrata, especially when worn.
The forewing background colour is white with dark markings. The antemedial and postmedial cross-lines are white. Beyond the postmedial cross-line are two white "x" marks adjacent to the termen.
The moth forewing are generally dark and in the area between the cross-lines are two distinctive black x's
The moth is easily disturbed during the day and is also 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.
- Brachytheciaceae - Moss Family
- Homalothecium sericium - Silky Wall Feather-moss
- Isothecium alopecuroides - Greater Mouse-tail Moss
- Hypnaceae - Moss Family
- Hypnum cupressiforme - Hypnum moss - Cypress-leaved plait-moss
Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - EUDONIA: Original Species Name: Species Names: Genus Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Pyraloidea Crambidae Scopariinae EUDONIA Billberg, 1820 Eudonia mercurella (Linnaeus, 1758) - PHALAENA mercurella (Linnaeus, 1758) - PHALAENA mercurella (Linnaeus, 1758) = Phalaena tinea mercurella Linnaeus, 1758 = Eudorea portlandica Humphreys & Westwood, 1841 = Eudorea frequentella Stainton, 1849 = Eudorea concinnella Curtis, 1850 = Eudonia mercurella puella Leraut, 1982 - EUDONIA Billberg 1820-Genus = Dipleurina Chapman 1912 = Witlesia Chapman 1912 - Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title Page : p.538 - n.269 - Europe |