Moths That
moths fly at
nightis understandable. Nevertheless
there are about hundred
species, which fly by day and sometimes also are beautiful coloured.
A characteristic of moths are the long feelers,
or antennaeare
unclubbed at the end.They are oftencomb-like or feathery, or filamentous. Most
moths have no bright colours (brown, grey, white or black) and often with
patterns of which help camouflage them during the day. Moths
tend to have stout and hairy bodies to conserve heat during the cooler nights.
There’s a coupling of the forewing with the hindwing. Unlike
moths, butterflies generally hold their wings together above their backs when
resting.
Snout moths, Pyralid Moths (Pyralidae)
They are quite variable in appearance. But all these moths have visible
antennae, when they are in rest. The antennae of other moths are under the
wings. There are some subfamilies. Subfamily
grass moths (Crambidae) is also treated as a full family.
Wikipedia: The principal difference is a structure in the ears called the praecinctorium,
which joins two tympanic membranes in the Crambidae, and is absent from the
Pyralidae.
Subfamily Pyralinae.
Large Tabby (Aglossa pinguinalis). Tribe Pyralini. Subfamily Pyralinae.
Family Snout
moths, Pyralid Moths (Pyralidae).
The female is darker than the male.
They are found in barns, stables etc.
The caterpillar can be found on dead and decaying vegetable matter. Like straw, grain, but also
dung.
The caterpillar overwinters.
Wingspan 30 - 40 mm.
June - September.
It occurs worldwide.
Photo 26-6-201. Only one photograph. Then it fled.
As you can see on the photo, the meal moths rest characteristically with
the tip of the abdomen
curved up at right-angles to the body. This moth I had found at home. Here
it did not stay long, for it was not such a safe place.
The caterpillars feed on stored grain (products) Of course not everyone is
happy about that.
Wingspan: 18 - 30 millimeters.
June to August. Several generations.
It is widespread worldwide.
Males have a cream white wing base of the forewing. The forewing of the female has a
brown green base colour. The females have a snout that protrudes.
Wingspan about 30 mm.
The larvae live primarily in the nests of bumblebees, but also in the nests of bees and wasps. They eat the wax in these nests.
Sometimes the whole nest is eaten. They can also gnaw the wood birdhouses. Beekeepers are not so happy with them.
In autumn, the larvae mature and overwinter in cocoons. Often a number of cocoons
are spun against each other.
June - August.
Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis).
Subfamily Pyraustinae.Family grass moths(Crambidae).
Sometimes you can read as family: Snout
moths, Pyralid Moths (Pyralidae).
In the light they sometimes have a pearly glow. (the picture left). It is a
day active moth. This moth a saw, when I was watering the garden.
The caterpillars feed on nettles. They roll up a nettle leaf and fix it with silk. Here they hibernate. They are sometimes on other plants.
Wingspan: 26 - 40 mm. That's large for a grass moth.
May - September Two generations.
Photo 11-7-2011
German: Nesselzünsler. French: Pyrale du Houblon.
Mint
moth (Pyrausta
aurata) is a day-flying moth. Subfamily Pyraustinae.Family grass moths(Crambidae).
It
is small moth and its food plant is mint (how it is
possible with such a name) but also species such as marjoram
On the photo it sits however on Green Alkanet, Evergreen Bugloss
(Pentaglottis
sempervirens) If it rests the feelers lie on its back. The Mint moth has a goldspot on the forewing. Its
the related to the Purprmott (Pyrausta purpuralis) (more spots). The
larvae of the autumn generation hibernate in their cocoons.
Flying time: April - September. Two generations.
Wingspan 10 - 15 mm. In north-west Europe 5 July I saw a
damaged mint moth with a fly on a Thousand-leaf,Yarrow.
The feelers stand up now.
German: Purpurzünsler French:
Pyrale de la menthe
Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata) Subfamily Pyraustinae.
Family
grass moths(Crambidae).
Although it is also a day-flying
moth from the family Crambidae, the Small Magpie
flies especially in twilight and also at night.
It is larger than the Mint
moth. The wingspan is 24-28 mm.
White wings with dark spots with some yellow body parts.
You can find the butterfly especially in the nettle. Here it is in a
yew.
The caterpillar feed on of woundwort and nettle. (but also other plants)
It feeds from a rolled or spun leaf in August and September It
hibernates as a cocoon.
It flies in June and July.
West Europe, East Asia.
German: Brennnesselzünsler
Udea prunalis Subfamily Pyraustinae. Family grass moths(Crambidae).
It flies at night. It is no day-flying moth like the other members of
this family on this page.
It is recognized by the line at the bottom of the wing. Above the line
there are two dark dots. The lower dot is larger.
The colour is is light gray brown with white legs and body.
The larvae feed on
the leaves of a wide range plants, trees, shrubs.
The young caterpillar hibernates in a cocoon on a leaf.
Flying time June - August. One generation. Wingspan
23 to 26 mm.
Subfamily Crambinae
Agriphila tristella Subfamily Crambinae. Family grass moths(Crambidae).
Oblong with a light stripe on the wings.
The caterpillar are found on different grasses. They live in the base of the stems of grass.
June to September.
Wingspan 22 to 30 mm
Europe and western Asia.
Nederlands /
Dutch
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