Longhorn moth
{{Short description|Species of moth}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Longhorn moth
| image = Adelidae - Nemophora degeerella - male.JPG
| image_caption = Nemophora degeerella, male
| image2 = Adelidae - Nemophora degeerella - female.JPG
| image2_caption =Nemophora degeerella, female
| taxon = Nemophora degeerella
| authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)
| synonyms =
- Phalaena (Tinea) degeerella Linnaeus, 1758
}}
The longhorn moth or yellow-barred long-horn (Nemophora degeerella) is a diurnal lepidopteran from the moths family Adelidae (fairy longhorn moths).[https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id44768/ BioLib]
Distribution and habitat
This species is present on most of Europe, but it is fairly common in north west Europe. The habitat of these moths is damp deciduous forests with wooded lanes and hedgerows.{{cite web|url= http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=432343|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131101094452/http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=432343|url-status= dead|archive-date= November 1, 2013|title=Nemophora degeerella (Linnaeus, 1758)|publisher=Fauna Europaea|version=2.5|date=July 23, 2012|accessdate=March 26, 2013}}
Description
The wingspan of Nemophora degeerella ranges from {{convert|18|-|20|mm}} in males, from {{convert|15|-|18|mm}} in females.{{cite web|url= http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/nemophora-degeerella|title=Nemophora degeerella |publisher=Nature Spot|accessdate=March 26, 2013}} The head is dark brown, with dark and yellow hair-like scales. The thorax has a bronzy golden shining. Forewings are shiny bronzy golden yellow or shiny ochreous with longitudinal dark brown and lead-gray blueish-violet shining streaks. A yellow transversal band cross the whole forewings, framed by two lead-gray blueish-violet shining stripes with a dark brown border. The three longitudinal lead-gray, blueish-violet shining stripes situated in the basal part of the wings do not treach the transversal fascia. Rear wings are brownish gray.[http://www.nkis.info/nkis/extaustaxonshow.cgi?uid=guest&tax=471&lang=e Naturkundliches Informationssystem]
The longhorn moth males have filiform antennae ranging up to five times their body length, while the female has much shorter antennae. Moreover in the females the basal part of the antennae is thickened by black scales, while the tip is white.
Nemophora degeerella is very similar to Nemophora congruella but N. congruella is slightly smaller, the forewing markings are bright yellow and the band is located closer to the base. In the females of N. congruella is missing the beard-like scales present in the basal part of the antennae of the females of N. degeerella. Also Adela croesella is very similar, but it is much smaller and more colorful. The gray blueish-violet stripes are at least as wide as the yellow central band.
Langmaid, J. R., Palmer, S. M. & Young, M. R. [eds]. 2018 A Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of Great Britain and Ireland [3rd ed.]Reading, Berkshire. British Entomological and Natural History Society[https://lepiforum.org/wiki/page/Nemophora_degeerella lepiforum.de includes images]{{PD-notice}}Zagulajev, A.K., 1987 Adelidae; in G.S. Medvedev (ed.): Keys to the insects of the europaean part of the USSR, Vol.IV: Lepidoptera, part 1 (english translation), Oxonian Press Pvt.Ltd., New Dehli, 1987
ISBN 10: 0956490212 / ISBN 13: 9780956490216 - 2nd edition (Bloomsbury Wildlife Guides)
Biology
These moths fly in the day. The flight period ranges from May to July. The caterpillar feeds on birch leaf litter.{{cite web|url=https://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=148|title= Nemophora degeerella|publisher=UK Moths|accessdate=June 15, 2010}} The adult moth feeds on Persicaria bistorta, Leucanthemum vulgare and nettles. This species has a single annual generation (univoltine). Hibernation takes place in the form larvae in a cocoon of leaves.
Etymology
The specific epithet honours Charles De Geer.
Gallery
File: Nemophora degeerella-07 (xndr).jpg |Lateral view
File:Nemophora degeerella.jpg |Mating pair
File:Nemophora.degeerella.male.jpg |Male with its long filiform antennae
File: Nemophora degeerella BE-MK-7-319a.jpg |Museum specimen
References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite journal|last=Kozlov|first = Mikhail V.|year = 2003 | title = Annotated checklist of the European species of Nemophora (Adelidae)| journal=Nota Lepidopterologica| volume=26| issue=3/4| pages=115–126| url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/291750725}}
- L.N. Perette, F. Spill et M. Rauch, Les Papillons de la Réserve de la Biosphère des Vosges du Nord, Eguelshardt, Cicogna, 33
- Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema Naturae, Ed. X. (Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata.) Holmiae. Systema Nat. ed. 10 i-ii + 1-824.
- {{cite journal| title = The Microlepidoptera described by Linnaeus and Clerck| year = 1983| last1 = Robinson| first1 = Gaden S.| last2 = Nielsen| first2 = Ebbe Schmidt| journal = Systematic Entomology| volume = 8| issue = 2| pages = 191–242| s2cid = 84148810| doi = 10.1111/j.1365-3113.1983.tb00479.x| bibcode = 1983SysEn...8..191R}}
- Küppers, P. V. 1980. Untersuchungen zur Taxonomie und Phylogenie der Westpaläarktischen Adelinae (Lepidoptera: Adelidae), Dissertation, Wissenschaftliche Beiträge Karlsruhe, Verlag M.Wahl, Karlsruhe.
- Kurz, M. A. & M. E. Kurz 2000–2010. Naturkundliches Informationssystem.
External links
{{Commons|Nemophora degeerella|longhorn moth}}
- [http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk/micros.php?bf=1480 Norfolk Moths]
- [http://ftp.funet.fi/index/Tree_of_life/insecta/lepidoptera/incurvariina/incurvarioidea/adelidae/adelinae/nemophora/ Funet] Taxonomy
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8HLzmgkMTU Nemophora degeerella] on YouTube
- [http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Nemophora_Degeerella Lepiforum.de]
- {{cite web|title=Nemophora degeerella|url=http://www2.nrm.se/en/svenska_fjarilar/n/nemophora_degeerella.html|publisher=Naturhistoriska riksmuseet}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q939526}}