Noctuidae : Xyleninae
Merveille du Jour
GRIPOSIA aprilina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Merveille du Jour
GRIPOSIA aprilina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Life Cycle Guide
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 -
Habitat: Broadleaved Woodland : Parkland : Hedgerows : Gardens
Similar Species -
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.
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
- Least Concern
- Phalaena aprilina Linnaeus, 1758
- Phalaena aprilina Linnaeus, 1758
- Europe
Habitat: Broadleaved Woodland : Parkland : Hedgerows : Gardens
Similar Species -
- Scarce Merveille du Jour - Moma alpium - (Osbeck, 1778)
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.
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.
- Fagaceae - Oak - Chestnut - Beech Family
- Quercus cerris - Turkey Oak *
- Quercus petraea - Sessile Oak*
- Quercus robur - Pedunculate Oak - Common Oak
- * Possibly used
Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - GRIPOSIA: Original Species Name: Species Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Noctuidae Xyleninae Xylenini GRIPOSIA Tams, 1939 Griposia aprilina (Linnaeus, 1758) - Phalaena aprilina Linnaeus, 1758 - 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 - Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.514 - n.99 - Europe |