Map-winged swift

The map-winged swift (Pharmacis fusconebulosa) is a moth belonging to the family Hepialidae. The species was first described by Charles De Geer in 1778. It has a patchy distribution throughout Eurasia. It was previously placed in the genus Hepialus and some references still place it there.

Mounted

Map-winged swift
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hepialidae
Genus: Pharmacis
Species:
P. fusconebulosa
Binomial name
Pharmacis fusconebulosa
(De Geer, 1778)
Synonyms
  • Phalaena fusconebulosa De Geer, 1778
  • Hepialus fusconebulosus (De Geer, 1778)
  • Hepialus fusconebulosa (De Geer, 1778)
  • Phalaena mappa Donovan, 1801
  • Hepialus nebulosator Haworth, 1802
  • Bombyx velleda Hubner, [1808]
  • Hepialus nebolosus Haworth, 1809
  • Hepialusnebulosus Haworth, 1828
  • Hepialus gallicus Lederer, 1852
  • Hepialus askoldensis Staudinger, 1887
  • Hepialus minor Staudinger, 1887
  • Hepialus hyperboreus Valle, 1931
  • Hepialus vallei Gronblom, 1936
  • Hepialusokninskyi Ermolajev, 1937
  • Hepialus latefasciatus Bytinski-Salz, 1939
  • Hepialus ornatus Bytinski-Salz, 1939
  • Korscheltellus centralis Viette, 1959
  • Korscheltellus pyreneensis Viette, 1959
  • Korscheltellus shetlandicus Viette, 1959
  • Korscheltellus vosgesiacus Viette, 1959
  • Korscheltellus fusconebulosa (De Geer, 1778)

This moth gets its common name from the variegated pattern of the forewing, in various shades of black, brown and white, which look rather like a map (although there are plainer forms). Unlike most hepialids, the pattern is rather similar in both sexes although the female is usually rather larger with a wingspan of up to 50 mm.

The adult flies from May to July (August in the north of the range) and is attracted to light, sometimes strongly so. This species overwinters twice as a larva.

This moth is strongly associated with bracken (Pteridium spp.) and it is most frequently encountered in habitats where this plant occurs (e.g. moorland, heathland, open woodland). However the larva, which is a root-feeder, has been recorded on other ferns such as Polystichum, grasses such as red fescue and also on potatoes and probably will feed on a wide range of other plants.

  1. ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

References
  • Skinner, Bernard (1984). Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles. p. 2. ISBN 0-670-80354-5.
  • Waring, Paul; Martin Townsend (2003). Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. pp. 21, 46. ISBN 0-9531399-2-1.
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