Anthophila fabriciana

Anthophila fabriciana, also known as the common nettle-tap, is a moth of the family Choreutidae first described in 1767 by Carl Linnaeus. The moth can be found flying around stinging nettles during the day.

Anthophila fabriciana
Anthophila fabriciana, upperside
Lateral view
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Choreutidae
Genus:
Anthophila
Species:
A. fabriciana
Binomial name
Anthophila fabriciana
Synonyms[1]

Distribution

This species can be found in most of Europe and it occurs throughout Britain.[2] It is also widespread from China (Taiwan, Xinjiang), the Himalaya, Mongolia, Russia, Korea, Japan (Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku), Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, the Canary Islands, Madeira, Asia Minor, Zakavkazye and the Oriental region.[3] In 2013 it was reported to be present in Canada (Manitoba).[4]

Life cycle

The moth flies in two generation per year from May to October depending on the location and are active during the day.[5] Some adults may overwinter.[6] They can occur wherever stinging nettles occur.[7] Anthophila fabriciana has a wingspan of 10–15 millimetres (0.39–0.59 in).[8] The forewings are a patchwork of dark brownish fuscous marbled with pale grey, with yellowish white costal spot and post-median fascia. The abdomen shows large pale bands.[9]

This species is rather similar to Choreutis pariana, which has whitish markings only along costa.[7]

Ova

Eggs are laid on the stem, or on either surface of a leaf of the foodplant.[5] The main food plant is stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), and can also be laid on eastern pellitory-of-the-wall (Parietaria officinalis) and tuberous comfrey (Symphytum tuberosum).[8][10][11]

Larva

Larva are up to 12 mm long, pale creamy-green or greenish-white with dark spots on each segment. They live in an individual, conspicuous web on the leaf of the host plant, usually on the upper surface, with the edges of the leaf drawn together.[12]

Pupa

The pupa is spun in or near the larval web, and is covered in a white, dense, spindle-shaped cocoon, which is circa 8–9 mm long.[5]

  • Moth
  • Larva

References
  1. "Anthophila fabriciana (LINNAEUS, 1767) - Brennnessel-Spreizflügelfalter". Lepiforum.de.
  2. "Anthophila fabriciana (Linnaeus, 1767)". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  3. "Study on Chinese Acrolepiidae and Choreutidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  4. Shared but overlooked: 30 species of Holarctic Microlepidoptera revealed by DNA barcodes and morphology
  5. Pelham-Clinton, E C. Heath, John; Maitland Emmet, A (eds.). Choreutidae. In The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Volume 2. Colchester: Harley Books. pp. 391–2. ISBN 0 946589 19 4.
  6. Tremewan, W T (1981). "Does Anthophila fabriciana (L) (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae) overwinter in the adult stage?". Entomologist's Gazette. 32: 2–3.
  7. "48.001 [B&F: 0385] Anthophila fabriciana (Linnaeus, 1767)". Hants Moths. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  8. Kimber, Ian. "48.001 BF385 Anthophila fabriciana (Linnaeus, 1767)". UKmoths. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  9. The Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists’ society vol. 32 n. 300 August 1973
  10. Lepidoptera of Belgium
  11. "Anthophila fabriciana (Linnaeus, 1767)". Funet. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  12. Davis, B N K (1991). Insects on nettles (Revised ed.). Slough: Richmond Publishing Co Ltd. p. 14. ISBN 0 85546 283 3.
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