Pyrausta despicata

Pyrausta despicata, the straw-barred pearl, is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It was described by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in his 1763 Entomologia Carniolica.

Pyrausta despicata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Genus: Pyrausta
Species:
P. despicata
Binomial name
Pyrausta despicata
Synonyms
  • Phalaena despicata Scopoli, 1763
  • Herbula picarialis Walker, 1866
  • Pyrausta despicata ifranalis Leraut, 2001
  • Phalaena Tortrix koenigiana O. F. Müller, 1764
  • Pyralis cespitalis Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775
  • Pyralis coespitalis A. Costa, 1843
  • Pirausta intermedialis Duponchel, 1833
  • Pyrausta cespitalis ab. hafneri Rebel, 1916
  • Pyrausta Pyralis cespitalis yangtsealis Caradja, 1938
  • Pyralis sordialis Thunberg, 1784
  • Pyralis sordidalis Hübner, 1796
  • Pyrausta cespitalis ab. extincta Skala, 1928
  • Pyrausta despicata f. hispanalis Dufrane, 1957
  • Pyrausta tendinosalis Bremer, 1864
  • Pyrausta vestianella Clerck, 1764
  • Pyrausta zonana Panzer, 1804

Description

The wingspan of Pyrausta despicata can reach 14–19 mm.[1][2] The wings are brown or greyish, with quite variable pale brown markings. The forewings are brownish grey or brown, sometimes blackish-sprinkled; first line obscurely pale or obsolete; second in pale greyish-ochreous, often obsolete except on costa, in male whitish-ochreous, dilated on costa; small orbicular and oval discal spot rather darker, in female sometimes separated by a pale spot; sometimes a pale subterminal streak. Hindwings in male grey in female blackish; sometimes a darker discal dot; a curved postmedian fascia and subterminal streak in male obscurely ochreous-whitish, in female whitish-ochreous. The larva is dull brownish-black; dorsal line double, grey; spiracular dull ochreous; spots black, grey circled; head and plate of 2 brown, darker-freckled [3]

Figs. 2, 2a larvae in various stages of growth 2b enlargement of two segments

The moth flies from May to September depending on the location, in two generations.[1] It is active in the sunshine and at dusk.[4] The larvae feed on Plantago lanceolata and Plantago major.[1]

Distribution

Pyrausta despicata is present in most of Europe.[5]

Habitat

This moth prefers chalky and limestone habitats.[1]

References

  1. UKMoths
  2. Norfolk Moths
  3. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description
  4. Lepidoptera of Belgium
  5. Fauna Europaea


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