Argyresthia goedartella

Argyresthia goedartella, the bronze alder moth, is a species of moth of the family Yponomeutidae.

Argyresthia goedartella
Argyresthia goedartella, upperside
Lateral view
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Argyresthiidae
Genus: Argyresthia
Species:
A. goedartella
Binomial name
Argyresthia goedartella
Synonyms[1]
  • Phalaena goedartella Linnaeus, 1758
  • Argyresthia (Argyresthia) goedartella
  • Phalaena semi-argentella Donovan, 1793
  • Tinea literella Haworth, 1828

Distribution

This very common species can be found in most of Europe and in North America.[2][3][4][5]

Description
Mounted specimen

Argyresthia goedartella has a wingspan of 10–13 mm.[6][7] These tiny moths have pale ochreous head with white antennae and white forewings with coppery-golden markings. A characteristic coppery-golden Y-shaped marking is present in the middle of the wings.[6] Hindwings are dark gray. Abdomen is grayish fuscous, while legs are brownish white.[7]

Wing

Biology

It is a univoltine species. These moths fly from May to October. They fly at night and on sunny afternoons and mainly feed on the nectar of tansy (Tanacetum vulgare).[6] The larvae feed on birch (Betula species) and alder (Alnus glutinosa).[3] They overwinter in a shoot or hard male catkin of the host plants. In late March or April, larvae congregate and pupate in a cocoon under the bark.[6][7]

References
  1. Lepiforum.de
  2. Fauna Europaea
  3. Funet - Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and some other life forms
  4. Moth Photographers Group
  5. Butterflies and Moths of North America
  6. UK Moths
  7. Shpeley, D. (2004). "Species Details Argyresthia goedartella". University of Alberta Museums. E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum. Retrieved November 8, 2020.

Notes
  1. ^ The flight season refers to Belgium and The Netherlands. This may vary in other parts of the range.


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