Merrifieldia tridactyla

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Merrifieldia tridactyla
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pterophoridae
Genus: Merrifieldia
Species:
M. tridactyla
Binomial name
Merrifieldia tridactyla
Synonyms
List
    • Merrifieldia tridactylus
    • Phalaena Alucita tridactylaLinnaeus, 1758
    • Pterophorus fuscolimbatusDuponchel, 1844
    • Pterophorus icterodactylusMann, 1855
    • Alucita icterodactyla ab. noctisCaradja, 1920
    • Alucita spicidactyla flavellaChrétien, 1923
    • Alucita baliodactyla menthaeChrétien, 1925
    • Alucita icterodactyla philippsiHuggins, 1955
    • Aciptilia exilidactylaBuszko, 1975
    • Merrifieldia neliBigot & Picard, 1989

Merrifieldia tridactyla, also known as the western thyme plume, is a moth of the family Pterophoridae, first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 10th edition of Systema Naturae in 1758. It is known from most of Europe, as well as North Africa and Asia Minor. [1]

Contents

Description

The wingspan is 18–23 millimetres (0.71–0.91 in). It is very similar to Merrifieldia leucodactyla Certain identification requires examination of the genitalia. [2]

Adults are on wing from June to July in western Europe.

The larvae feed on Thymus species, including Breckland thyme ( Thymus serpyllum ) and common thyme ( Thymus vulgaris ), and mint ( Mentha species) in Europe. In Saudi Arabia, larvae have been recorded feeding on the fruits of Cucurbita moschata .

References

  1. ↑ "Merrifieldia tridactyla (Linnaeus, 1758)". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  2. ↑ Gielis, C., 1996. Pterophoridae. - In P. Huerner, O. Karsholt and L. Lyneborg (eds): Microlepidoptera of Europe 1: 1-222. ISBN 87-88757-36-6 ISSN 1395-9506


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