| Gorse tip moth | |
|---|---|
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| Adult in Hellerup, Denmark | |
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| Illustration from Stainton's Natural History of the Tineina | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Depressariidae |
| Genus: | Agonopterix |
| Species: | A. nervosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Agonopterix nervosa (Haworth, 1811) | |
| Synonyms | |
Numerous, see text | |
The gorse tip moth (Agonopterix nervosa) is a smallish moth species of the family Depressariidae. [1]
Contents
It is found in Europe and North America.
The wingspan is 16–22 mm. Terminal joint of palpi with two blackish bands. Forewings are light brown, somewhat whitish-sprinkled, sometimes slightly reddish-tinged; numerous dark fuscous dashes; two indicating discal stigmata, between which is sometimes a line of pale scales; an obscure pale very acutely angulated fascia at 3/4. Hindwings fuscous-whitish, more fuscous posteriorly; 5 connate with stalk of 3 and 4.The larva is dark bluish -grey; lateral line orange-yellow; spots black, white-circled; head black; plate of 2 black, bisected, anterior edge whitish. [2]
Adults fly from July to September depending on the location.
The caterpillars feed on brooms, namely of the genera Cytisus , Genista , Laburnum (golden chains) and Ulex (gorses). [1]
