Orange Swift

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Orange Swift
Triodia sylvina, male
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Hepialidae Genus: Triodia Species: T. sylvina
Binomial name
Triodia sylvina Linnaeus, 1761

The Orange Swift (Triodia sylvina), also known as "Orange Moth" (but see Angerona prunaria), is a species of moth belonging to the family Hepialidae. It was previously placed in the genus Hepialus. It is distributed throughout Europe.

This species has a wingspan of 32-48 mm. The male has rich orange forewings with two white bars forming a "v" shape. The hindwings are dark brown. The female is similar but generally larger and less brightly coloured. It flies at night from June to September ^[1] and is attracted to light.

The larva feeds on the roots of various plants including bracken, dandelion, dock, hop and Viper's Bugloss. This species overwinters twice as a larva.

1. ^  The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

[edit] References

• Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
• Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984