| Anthophila fabriciana | |
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| Anthophila fabriciana, upperside | |
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| Lateral view | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Choreutidae |
| Genus: | Anthophila |
| Species: | A. fabriciana |
| Binomial name | |
| Anthophila fabriciana | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
List
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Anthophila fabriciana, also known as the common nettle-tap, is a moth of the family Choreutidae first described in 1767 by Carl Linnaeus. The moth can be found flying around stinging nettles during the day.
This species can be found in most of Europe and it occurs throughout Britain. [2] It is also widespread from China (Taiwan, Xinjiang), the Himalaya, Mongolia, Russia, Korea, Japan (Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku), Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, the Canary Islands, Madeira, Asia Minor, Zakavkazye and the Oriental region. [3] In 2013 it was reported to be present in Canada (Manitoba). [4]
The moth flies in two generation per year from May to October depending on the location and are active during the day. [5] Some adults may overwinter. [6] They can occur wherever stinging nettles occur. [7] Anthophila fabriciana has a wingspan of 10–15 millimetres (0.39–0.59 in). [8] The forewings are a patchwork of dark brownish fuscous marbled with pale grey, with yellowish white costal spot and post-median fascia. The abdomen shows large pale bands. [9]
This species is rather similar to Choreutis pariana , which has whitish markings only along costa. [7]
Eggs are laid on the stem, or on either surface of a leaf of the foodplant. [5] The main food plant is stinging nettle ( Urtica dioica ), and can also be laid on eastern pellitory-of-the-wall ( Parietaria officinalis ) and tuberous comfrey ( Symphytum tuberosum ). [8] [10] [11]
Larvae are up to 12 mm long, pale creamy-green or greenish-white with dark spots on each segment. They live in an individual, conspicuous web on the leaf of the host plant, usually on the upper surface, with the edges of the leaf drawn together. [12]
The pupa is spun in or near the larval web, and is covered in a white, dense, spindle-shaped cocoon, which is circa 8–9 mm long. [5]
The common swift is a moth of the family Hepialidae. It was previously placed in the genus Hepialus. It is a common, often abundant European species. The species was described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.
Campaea margaritata, commonly known in the UK as the light emerald, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1767 12th edition of Systema Naturae. It is widely distributed throughout Europe, the Near East and North Africa. The habitat is mixed forests including parks and large gardens.
The Queen of Spain fritillary is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.
The copper underwing, humped green fruitworm or pyramidal green fruitworm is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.
The New Zealand red admiral is a butterfly endemic to New Zealand. Its Māori name is kahukura, which means "red cloak". The red admiral is a member of the family Nymphalidae, the subfamily Nymphalinae and the tribe Nymphalini. There are two subspecies: V. g. gonerilla, which occurs on the mainland of New Zealand, and V. g. ida, which occurs on the Chatham Islands.
The garden tiger moth or great tiger moth is a moth of the family Erebidae. Arctia caja is a northern species found in the US, Canada, and Europe. The moth prefers cold climates with temperate seasonality, as the larvae overwinter, and preferentially chooses host plants that produce pyrrolizidine alkaloids. However, garden tiger moths are generalists, and will pick many different plants to use as larval host plants.
Acherontia atropos, the Africandeath's-head hawkmoth, is the most widely recognized of three species within the genus Acherontia. It is most commonly identified by the vaguely skull-shaped pattern adorning the thorax, the characteristic from which its common and scientific names are derived. The species was first given its scientific name by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.
Choreutidae, or metalmark moths, are a family of insects in the lepidopteran order whose relationships have been long disputed. It was placed previously in the superfamily Yponomeutoidea in family Glyphipterigidae and in superfamily Sesioidea. It is now considered to represent its own superfamily. The relationship of the family to the other lineages in the group "Apoditrysia" need a new assessment, especially with new molecular data.
Dyseriocrania subpurpurella is a diurnal moth from the family Eriocraniidae, found in most of Europe. The moth was first named by the English entomologist, Adrian Hardy Haworth in 1828.
Polygonia comma, the eastern comma, is a North American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Nymphalinae.
Rhodometra sacraria, the vestal, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1767 12th edition of Systema Naturae.
Arctia villica, the cream-spot tiger, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. It is distributed from the Iberian Peninsula across western and southern Europe, Anatolia, western and northern Iran, western Siberia, southwestern Asia and North Africa.
Prochoreutis myllerana, Miller’s nettle-tap or small metal-mark, is a moth of the family Choreutidae found in Asia and Europe. Miller's nettle-tap was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1794 from a specimen found in Sweden.
Acontia lucida, the pale shoulder, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Johann Siegfried Hufnagel in 1766.
Choreutis nemorana, the fig-tree skeletonizer moth or fig leaf roller, is a species of moth of the family Choreutidae.
Cameraria macrocarpae is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is only known from Manitoba, Canada.
Choreutis pariana, the apple-and-thorn skeletonizer or apple leaf skeletonizer, is a moth of the family Choreutidae. The moth was first described by the Swedish entomologist Carl Alexander Clerck in 1759. It is native to Eurasia and was introduced to New England, USA in 1917.
Acanthopsyche atra, the dusky sweep, is a moth of the family Psychidae. The habitat consists of heath and moorland.