orange swift

This species has a wingspan of 32–48 mm. The male has rich orange forewings with two white bars forming a "V" shape. The hindwings are dark brown. The female is similar but generally larger and less brightly coloured. It flies at night from June to September{{ref|flight season}} and is attracted to light. They do not have a proboscis so will not be found at flowers feeding. The globular, shiny black eggs are broadcast by the female as she hovers over the food plant.{{cite book |last1=Heath |first1=John |author1-link=John Heath (entomologist) |title=Hepialidae. In The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Volume 1 |date=1983 |publisher=Harley Books |location=Colchester |isbn=0 946589 15 1 |pages=166–70}}{{cite book |last1=Leverton |first1=Roy |title=Enjoying Moths |date=2001 |publisher=Poyser Natural History |location=London |isbn=0 85661 124 7 |page=97}}

(MHNT) Triodia sylvina - St Foy d'Aigrefeuille - France - male dorsal.jpg|♂

(MHNT) Triodia sylvina - St Foy d'Aigrefeuille - France - male ventral.jpg|♂ △

(MHNT) Triodia sylvina - St Foy d'Aigrefeuille - France - female dorsal.jpg|♀

(MHNT) Triodia sylvina - St Foy d'Aigrefeuille - France - female ventral.jpg|♀ △

;Larva

When they hatch the larvae find their foodplant, bore into the root and are 25 to 30 mm long when fully fed. They have an orange-brown head and a shiny white body with brownish-orange dorsal plates on the thoracic segments; spiracles are black. They can feed for two years from September to July on the roots of various plants including bracken (Pteridium species), dandelion (Taraxacum species), docks (Rumex species), hop (Humulus lupulus) and viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare).{{cite book |last1=Porter |first1=Jim |title=The Colour Identification Guide to Caterpillars of the British Isles |date=1997 |publisher=Viking |location=London |isbn=0 670 87509 0 |page=1}}

;Pupa

The larvae pupate in silken cocoons near the surface of the soil; pupa are elongated with hooked bristles on the abdominal segments. They leave the cocoon, prior to the emergence of the imago.

Found throughout northern, central and south-eastern Europe to the Middle East.

Originally placed in the genus Hepialus – from the Greek; hēpialos – means a fever, as in 'the fitful, alternating flight' of the moth. It has since been allocated to the genus Triodia{{Clarify|reason=Meaning?|date=August 2022}}. The specific name sylvina – from silvanus – belonging to a wood, referring to the moths habitat; although it can be found in other habitats.{{cite book |last1=Emmet |first1=A Maitland |author1-link=A. Maitland Emmet |title=The Scientific Names of the British Lepidoptera. Their history and meaning |date=1991 |publisher=Harley Books |location=Colchester |isbn=0-946589-35-6 |page=42}}

Triodia.sylvina.7444.jpg

File:Britishentomologyvolume5Plate185.jpg| John Curtis's British Entomology Volume 5

Image:Buckler W The larvæ of the British butterflies and moths PlateXXX.jpg| Figs. 5 larvae after last moult burrowing in root of dock

File:Triodia sylvina - pupa female 01 (HS).JPG| female pupa

1. {{Note|flight season}} The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web |last=Kimber |first=Ian |url=https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/triodia-sylvina |title=3.001 BF15 Orange Swift Triodia sylvina (Linnaeus, 1761) |website=UKMoths |access-date=16 August 2022}}
• [http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Triodia_Sylvina Lepiforum e.V.]

{{Taxonbar |from=Q474591}}

Category:Hepialidae

Category:Moths described in 1761

Category:Moths of Asia

Category:Moths of Europe

Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus