Anthophila fabriciana

Anthophila fabriciana
Anthophila fabriciana, upperside
Lateral view
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Choreutidae
Genus: Anthophila
Species: A. fabriciana
Binomial name
Anthophila fabriciana
(Linnaeus, 1767)
Synonyms[1]

Anthophila fabriciana, also known as the common nettle-tap, is a moth of the family Choreutidae.

Distribution

This species can be found in most of Europe and it occurs throughout Britain. [2] It is also widespread from China (Taiwan, Xinjiang), the Himalaya, Mongolia, Russia, Korea, Japan (Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku), Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, the Canary Islands, Madeira, Asia Minor, Zakavkazye and the Oriental region.[3] In 2013 it was reported to be present in Canada (Manitoba).[4]

Habitat

These moths inhabit waste ground, hedgerows and gardens. [5]

Description

Anthophila fabriciana has a wingspan of 10–15 millimetres (0.39–0.59 in).[6] The forewings are a patchwork of dark browhish fuscous marbled with pale grey, with yellowish white costal spot and post-median fascia. The abdomen shows large pale bands. [7]

This species is rather similar to Choreutis pariana, which has whitish markings only along costa. [5]

Biology

The moth flies in two generation per year from May to October depending on the location. They are active during the day. The larvae live in a web on the leaves of the host plants. They feed on Urtica dioica, Parietaria officinalis and Symphytum tuberosum. [6][8][9]

References

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