Pyrausta purpuralis

Pyrausta purpuralis is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae and is found in Europe. The species closely resembles Pyrausta aurata and Pyrausta ostrinalis.

Pyrausta purpuralis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Genus: Pyrausta
Species:
P. purpuralis
Binomial name
Pyrausta purpuralis
Synonyms
  • Phalaena (Pyralis) purpuralis Linnaeus, 1758
  • Pyrausta purpuralis chermesinalis Guenée, 1854
  • Phalaena inflammata Scopoli, 1763
  • Pyralis punicealis Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775
  • Botys niepoldalis Lederer, 1863
  • Pyrausta confundalis Zetterstedt, 1839
  • Pyrausta melanalis Caradja, 1916

The wingspan is about 20 mm. The forewings are purple, more or less mixed with dark grey ; markings ochreous yellow, black-edged ; an oblique fascia near base, not reaching costa ; a spot in middle of disc ; an irregular postmedian fascia,sometimes broken into three spots ; sometimes a subterminal streak, not reaching apex. Hindwings are black, base sometimes suffused with whitish-ochreous ; a discal spot and curved postmedian fascia whitish-ochreous ; sometimes a whitish-ochreous subterminal streak, sometimes purple in middle.The larva is dark grey ; dorsal and spiracular lines yellowish ; spots black, whitish-edged.[1]

The moth flies from May to September depending on the location. The species is active during the day.

The larvae feed on mint.

References
  1. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description


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