Harpella forficella

Harpella forficella is a species of the concealer moth family (Oecophoridae), wherein it belongs to subfamily Oecophorinae.

Harpella forficella
Harpella forficella. Side view
Dorsal view
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Oecophoridae
Genus: Harpella
Species:
H. forficella
Binomial name
Harpella forficella
Synonyms
  • Tinea majorella Denis & Schiffermuller, 1775
  • Phalaena proboscidella Sulzer, 1776
  • Harpella aerisell< Caradja, 1920

Distribution

This species can be found in most of Europe and in the Near East.[1]

Habitat

These moths inhabit deciduous forests, especially on hedge rows and sandy soils.

Description

Harpella forficella has a wingspan of 19–29 mm.[2] These moths have a brown-yellow wing pattern, which is only slightly variable. They have conspicuously long, upturned palps. The caterpillars are light gray and have gray spots and dark hairy warts. Head and neck shield are brown.[3]

Biology

The adults fly from June to September, depending on the location. They rarely come to light and sometimes fly during the day. The females lay eggs from late summer until autumn on the trunks of trees. The caterpillars live singly or in small groups on decayed wood, under bark, from September and hibernate till next spring.[4][5] They feed on fungus mycelia on dead wood and take two years to develop.[6] They have also been recorded to eat the sac fungus King Alfred's cake (Daldinia concentrica).

References
  1. Fauna europaea
  2. Schmetterlinge-westerwald (in German)
  3. Lepiforum.de (in German)
  4. Kimber, Ian. "28.023 BF652a Harpella forficella (Scopoli, 1763)". UKmoths. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  5. Lepidoptera of Belgium
  6. Albert Grabe Eigenartige Geschmacksrichtungen bei Kleinschmetterlingsraupen (Strange tastes among micromoth caterpillars) (in German)
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