Polymixis lichenea

Polymixis lichenea, the feathered ranunculus, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in western Europe and Morocco. It is mainly found in coastal areas.

Polymixis lichenea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Noctuidae
Genus:
Polymixis
Species:
P. lichenea
Binomial name
Polymixis lichenea
(Hübner, [1813])[1]
Synonyms
  • Noctua lichenea Hübner, [1813]
  • Eumichtis lichenea
  • Epunda lichenea f. apennina Dannehl, 1929
  • Eumichtis lichenea scillonea Richardson, 1958
  • Eumichtis lichenea septentrionalis Lempke, 1964
  • Epunda lichenea var. aetnea Turati, 1908
  • Polia viridicincta Freyer, 1831
  • Noctua tephra Geyer, [1832]
  • Epunda lichenea mirabilis Rungs, 1940

Technical description and variation
For a key to the terms used, see Glossary of entomology terms.

The wingspan is 35–40 mm. Forewing dark to light green, varied with reddish along the inner margin and the course of the lines and round the stigmata; inner and outer lines grey, double; submarginal line pale, preceded by rufous wedge shaped marks; claviform stigma small, dark; orbicular and reniform whitish, often dusted with grey, with dark centres and blackish outlines; fringe green; hindwing of male white, of female light or dark grey, with grey discal spot and outer, sometimes also a submarginal, line; in the form viridicincta Frr. the ground colour is grey tinged with olive, the central fascia generally darker olive, all the red tints replaced by dark green; tephra Geyer is a paler grey form with the green tints also obsolete; aetnea Turati, from Sicily, is blackish, the markings on forewing distinct.[2]

4, 4a, 4b, 4c larvae in various stages of growth

Biology

Adults are on wing from August to October.[3]

Larva pale green or brownish mottled with darker; spiracular line pale; head yellowish. The larvae feed on various low-growing plants, including Sedum acre and Armeria maritima.[4]

References
  1. Fauna Europaea
  2. Seitz, A. Ed., 1914 Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde, Verlag Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart Band 3: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen eulenartigen Nachtfalter, 1914
  3. UKmoths
  4. "Robinson, G. S., P. R. Ackery, I. J. Kitching, G. W. Beccaloni & L. M. Hernández, 2010. HOSTS – A Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants. Natural History Museum, London".
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