Hypsopygia costalis

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Hypsopygia costalis
Hypsopygia costalis01.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pyralidae
Genus: Hypsopygia
Species:
H. costalis
Binomial name
Hypsopygia costalis
(Fabricius, 1775)
Synonyms

Numerous, see text

Hypsopygia costalis, the gold triangle or clover hay moth, [1] is a species of moth of the family Pyralidae. It was described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775 and is found in Europe.

Contents

Hypsopygia.costalis.mounted.jpg

The wingspan is 16–23 mm.The forewings are purple, sometimes blackish-sprinkled; median part of costa dotted with yellow; lines yellow, nearly straight, forming large spots on costa; a terminal line and cilia yellow. Hindwings as forewings, but lines much nearer together, irregularly curved, not forming costal spots. [2] [3] [4] [5]

The adult moths fly from May to July, depending on the location. The supposed species H. aurotaenialis is included here pending further study. [6]

The caterpillars feed on dry vegetable matter. They have been found in haystacks or thatching, as well as in chicken (Gallus) and magpie (Pica) nests. [7] The caterpillar is injurious to clover hay, and to other hay when mixed with clover. Its depredations can be prevented by keeping the hay dry and well ventilated, as the insect preferably breeds in moist or matted material such as is to be found in the lower parts of haystacks, where affected hay becomes filled with webbings of the caterpillars and their excrement, rendering it unfit for feeding. A treatment is to burn the webbed material and to thoroughly clean the affected location. [8]

Synonyms

Junior synonyms of this species are: [6]

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 "Notes on Some Insects of the Season" . Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  2. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain . Keys and description
  3. lepiforum.de includes images PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  4. Parsons, M. Clancey, C. 2023 A Guide to the Pyralid and Crambid Moths of Britain and Ireland Atropos Publishing ISBN   978-0-9551086-4-8
  5. Goater, B., Dyke . G. and Tweedie, R. 1986 British Pyralid Moths: A Guide to Their Identification ISBN   978-0-946589-08-1
  6. 1 2 See references in Savela (2009)
  7. Grabe (1942)
  8. Rines, George Edwin, ed. (1920). "Hay-worm"  . Encyclopedia Americana .

References