Pyrausta despicata

Pyrausta despicata
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Crambidae
Genus:	Pyrausta
Species:	P. despicata
Binomial name
Pyrausta despicata (Scopoli, 1763)
Synonyms
Phalaena despicata Scopoli, 1763 Herbula picarialis Walker, 1866 Pyrausta despicata ifranalis Leraut, 2001 Phalaena Tortrix koenigiana O. F. Müller, 1764 Pyralis cespitalis Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775 Pyralis coespitalis A. Costa, 1843 Pirausta intermedialis Duponchel, 1833 Pyrausta cespitalis ab. hafneri Rebel, 1916 Pyrausta Pyralis cespitalis yangtsealis Caradja, 1938 Pyralis sordialis Thunberg, 1784 Pyralis sordidalis Hübner, 1796 Pyrausta cespitalis ab. extincta Skala, 1928 Pyrausta despicata f. hispanalis Dufrane, 1957 Pyrausta tendinosalis Bremer, 1864 Pyrausta vestianella Clerck, 1764 Pyrausta zonana Panzer, 1804

Pyrausta despicata, the straw-barred pearl, is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It was described by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in his 1763 Entomologia Carniolica.

Description

The wingspan of Pyrausta despicata can reach 14–19 mm. The wings are brown or greyish, with quite variable pale brown markings. The forewings are brownish grey or brown, sometimes blackish-sprinkled; first line obscurely pale or obsolete; second in pale greyish-ochreous, often obsolete except on costa, in male whitish-ochreous, dilated on costa; small orbicular and oval discal spot rather darker, in female sometimes separated by a pale spot; sometimes a pale subterminal streak. Hindwings in male grey in female blackish; sometimes a darker discal dot; a curved postmedian fascia and subterminal streak in male obscurely ochreous-whitish, in female whitish-ochreous. The larva is dull brownish-black; dorsal line double, grey; spiracular dull ochreous; spots black, grey circled; head and plate of 2 brown, darker-freckled

Figs. 2, 2a larvae in various stages of growth 2b enlargement of two segments

The moth flies from May to September depending on the location, in two generations. It is active in the sunshine and at dusk. The larvae feed on Plantago lanceolata and Plantago major.

Distribution

Pyrausta despicata is present in most of Europe.

Habitat

This moth prefers chalky and limestone habitats.

External links

• Lepiforum.de
• Media related to Pyrausta despicata at Wikimedia Commons