Thumatha senex

Thumatha senex, the round-winged muslin, is a moth of the family Erebidae. It is found in northern and central Europe, the Alps, northern Asia Minor, the Crimea and south-western Siberia.

Thumatha senex
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Arctiinae
Genus: Thumatha
Species:
T. senex
Binomial name
Thumatha senex
(Hübner, 1808)
Synonyms
  • Bombyx senex Hübner, [1808]
  • Nudaria rotunda Haworth, 1809
  • Comacla senex
  • Comacla senex karvajszkyi Diószeghy, 1923

Technical description and variation
For a key to the terms used, see Glossary of entomology terms.

The wingspan is 15–20 mm. Not unlike Nudaria mundana ( mundana has less-rounded forewings and a more transparent appearance, less obvious spots). The central spot at the apex of the cell distinct; a larger shadowy spot at the middle of the costa, and before the marginal area of the forewing a row of spots which are especially distinct in the costal region. Another curved row of spots bounds the basal third of the forewing.[1] The wings are sparsely scaled, giving them a thin, papery appearance.

Habitat in Ireland

Biology

Adults are on wing from mid-June to mid-August in one generation.

Egg round, yellow. Larva ashy grey, very hairy, with black head. The larvae feed on lichen (especially Peltigera canina) and mosses. Pupa stumpy, dark brown, in a dense hairy cocoon.

The moths fly on damp meadows, and are not rare in their flight-places; they come to the light at night.

References
  1. Seitz, A. Ed. Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde, Verlag Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart Band 2: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen Spinner und Schwärmer, 1912-1913


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