Micropterix aruncella

Micropterix aruncella is a species of moth belonging to the family Micropterigidae, which is distributed throughout Europe. The imago was first described by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in 1763. This species is one of the best known members of the family, being found in a wide range of habitats from sea level to over 2,000 metres (6,600 ft); the only habitat not favoured by this species is dense woodland.

Micropterix aruncella
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Micropterigidae
Genus: Micropterix
Species:
M. aruncella
Binomial name
Micropterix aruncella
Synonyms[1]
List
    • Phalaena aruncella Scopoli, 1763
    • Tinea seppella Fabricius, 1777
    • Tinea podevinella Hübner, 1813
    • Lampronia concinnella
    • Micropteryx eximiella Zeller, 1850
    • Eriocephala atricapilla Wocke, 1877
    • Micropteryx nuraghella Amsel, 1936

Description

This very small moth has a maximum forewing length of only 4 millimetres (0.16 in). Their wingspan is 6 millimetres (0.24 in) or 7 millimetres (0.28 in).[2] The colour of the forewings is rather variable but is usually reddish golden. Females usually have no other markings but males are marked with two silvery white bands.[3] They can be found in various dry habitats including downland and hillsides.[2]

Ecology

Like other members of the family, this species has functional jaws and it feeds as an adult on pollen grains from a wide variety of flowers including those of hawthorn (Crataegus species), Cytisus, Lychnis, pine (Pinus species), Plantago, rose (Rosa species), nettle (Urtica species) and Veronica as well as numerous grasses. Depending on elevation and latitude, the adults may be encountered in daytime from May to August.[2]

Similar species

The females are similar to Micropterix calthella but has the whole base of the forewing purple, compared with M. calthella which has a purple patch on the base of the costa (although calthella often has purple suffusion scattered over the forewing). In Britain both species can be found, during the day, on creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens), but the UKmoths website recommends searching the lower flowers of hawthorn Crataegus monogyna for M. aruncella.

Larva

The larva feeds on detritus at the base of herbaceous plants before pupating in a tough cocoon.[3]

Distribution

Found throughout mainland Europe except Bulgaria and Portugal.[1][4]

Taxonomy

The name Micropterix was raised by the German entomologist, Jacob Hübner in 1825 and comes from the Greek for mikros – little, and pterux – a wing.[5] The specific name aruncella refers to the plant, goat's beard (Spiraea aruncus), on which moths have been found feeding on the pollen.[6]

References
  1. "Micropterix aruncella (Scopoli, 1763)". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  2. "Micropterix aruncella ". Nature Spot. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  3. Kimber, Ian. "Micropterix aruncella (Scopoli, 1763)". UKmoths. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  4. Heath, John (1983). Micropterigidae. In The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Volume 1. Colchester: Harley Books. p. 153. ISBN 0 946589 15 1.
  5. Smith, Frank. "Microlepidoptera (Micro-Moths)" (PDF). Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Federation for Biological Recorders. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  6. Emmet, A Maitland (1991). The Scientific Names of the British Lepidoptera. Their history and meaning. Colchester: Harley Books. p. 42. ISBN 0 946589 35 6.

Further reading
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