73.224 : 2247 : 9694
Noctuidae : Xyleninae

Merveille du Jour

GRIPOSIA aprilina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
 Wingspan: 42 - 52mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - less N Russia and some Mediterranean Islands : Turkey : Caucasus : Asia Minor
UK Distribution: England,Wales - fairly well distributed : Scotland,Isle of Man - local : Ireland - thinly distributed : Channel Isles - local but fairly frequent on Jersey
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = > 300 10km squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena aprilina Linnaeus, 1758
Type Species - Griposia
  • Phalaena aprilina Linnaeus, 1758
Type Locality -
  • Europe
Flight Period: South - September - November : Elsewhere - September - October
Habitat: Broadleaved Woodland : Parkland : Hedgerows : Gardens
Similar Species -
  • Scarce Merveille du Jour - Moma alpium - (Osbeck, 1778)
Larva: The 50mm final instar larva is greyish brown or greyish green with a broken at each segment,white dorsal line.There are broad grey green diamond marks on each segment with pairs of white spots,the largest being along the subdorsal line.There is a fine white,edged black subspiracular line which join the large white spots previously mentioned. The head is brown or dull green with a pair of black bold stripes.
Pupa: Pupate in tough cocoons beneath the soil
Overwinters as: Ovum
Observations: A moth that seems to raise strong emotions at the moth trap with its beauty and well defined forewing markings.The forewings are broad and curved towards the apex,pastel green with black broken cross lines edged with white.There is a a black mark above the head which is similar to the Greek omega symbol and a costal white streak with intermittent black marks.
M.alpium has similar shade of green but is slimmer but with same costal white streak but a less defined reniform stigmata and less black markings centrally.

The moth is attracted to light  and sugar and comes to flowers.
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.
Taxonomy
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Type Species - GRIPOSIA:

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Type Locality:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Xyleninae
Xylenini
GRIPOSIA Tams, 1939
Griposia aprilina (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Phalaena aprilina Linnaeus, 1758
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PHALAENA aprilina Linnaeus, 1758
= Dichonia aprilina Linnaeus, 1758
= Phalaena (Noctua) aprilina Linnaeus, 1758
= Noctua runica Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775
= Dichonia aprilina obscurior Wolfsberger, 1970
= Dichonia (Griposia) aprillina
= Griposia aprillina
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Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.514 - n.99
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Europe