Orange swift
| Orange swift | |
|---|---|
| |
| Triodia sylvina, male | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Hepialidae |
| Genus: | Triodia |
| Species: | T. sylvina
|
| Binomial name | |
| Triodia sylvina (Linnaeus, 1761)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
List
| |
The orange swift or orange moth (Triodia sylvina) is a moth belonging to the family Hepialidae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1761 and was previously placed in the genus Hepialus. It is distributed throughout Europe.
Description
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[1] and is attracted to light. The eggs are broadcast by the female, hovering over the food plant.[1]
- Larvae
When fully fed the larva are 25 to 30 mm long with an orange-brown head and a shiny white body with brownish-orange dorsal plates on the thoracic segments; spiracles are black. They 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).[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.[1]
-
-
-
John Curtis's British Entomology Volume 5 -
Figs. 5 larvae after last moult burrowing in root of dock -
female pupa
.JPG?lang=en)
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[clarification needed]. The specific name sylvina – from silvanus – belonging to a wood, referring to the moths habitat; although it can be found in other habitats. [2]
Notes
- ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.
References
- ^ a b c Heath, John (1983). Hepialidae. In The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Volume 1. Colchester: Harley Books. pp. 166–70. ISBN 0 946589 15 1.
- ^ 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.
- Chinery, Michael (1986, reprinted 1991). Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe.
- Skinner, Bernard (1984). The Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles.
External links
- Kimber, Ian. "3.001 BF15 Orange Swift Triodia sylvina (Linnaeus, 1761)". UKMoths. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
- Fauna Europaea
- Lepiforum e.V.