Argyresthia goedartella

Argyresthia goedartella
Argyresthia goedartella, upperside
Lateral view
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Yponomeutidae
Genus: Argyresthia
Subgenus: Argyresthia
Species: A. goedartella
Binomial name
Argyresthia goedartella
(Linnaeus, 1758)

Argyresthia goedartella, the bronze alder moth, is a moth of the family Yponomeutidae.

Distribution

This very common species can be found in most of Europe[1][2] and in North America. [3][4]

Description

Mounted specimen

Argyresthia goedartella has a wingspan of 10–13 mm.[5][6] These tiny moths have pale ochreous head with white antennae and white forewings with coppery-golden markings. A characteristic coppery-golden Y-shaped marking is present in the middle of the wings.[5] Hindwings are dark gray. Abdomen is grayish fuscous, while legs are brownish white. [6]

Wing

Biology

It is an univoltine species. These moth fly from May to October. They fly at night and on sunny afternoons and mainly feed on nectar of Tanacetum vulgare. [5] The larvae feed on birch and Alnus glutinosa.[2] They overwinter in a shoot or hard male catkin of the host plants. In late March or April, larvae congregate and pupate in a cocoon under the bark. [5][6]

References

  1. ↑ Fauna Europaea
  2. 1 2 Funet - Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and some other life forms
  3. ↑ Moth Photographers Group
  4. ↑ Butterflies and Moths of North America
  5. 1 2 3 4 UK Moths
  6. 1 2 3 Entomology Collection - University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Notes

  1. ^ The flight season refers to Belgium and The Netherlands. This may vary in other parts of the range.
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