Pediasia aridella is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It was described by Carl Peter Thunberg in 1788 and is found in Europe. There are three recognised subspecies.

Pediasia aridella
Pediasia aridella nominate Thames Estuary, England
Subspecies Peridasia aridella caradjella
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Genus: Pediasia
Species:
P. aridella
Binomial name
Pediasia aridella
(Thunberg, 1788)
Synonyms
  • Tinea aridella Thunberg, 1794
  • Crambus aridella caradjaellus Rebel, 1907
  • Crambus aridella edmontellus McDunnough, 1923
  • Crambus monotonus Filipjev, 1927
  • Crambus salinellus nepos Rothschild, 1911
  • Pediasia kasyi Ganev, 1983
  • Pseudopediasia mikkolai Ganev, 1987
  • Crambus salinellus Tutt, 1887
  • Crambus salinellus ludovicellus Marion, 1952
  • Pediasia aridella ludovicellus (Marion, 1952)
  • Pediasia kenderesiensis Fazekas, 1987
Figs. 8 larva after final moult

The wingspan is 20–26 mm. The forewings are ochreous, veins variably pale or whitish, interneural spaces sometimes blackish-sprinkled; a blackish streak beneath median vein from base to middle; lines obscurely darker, on lower half blackish mixed, median very strongly curved, very oblique dorsally, second curved, slightly indented below middle; three or four black dots on lower half of termen; cilia ochreous, mixed with white. Hindwings are whitish-grey or very pale grey. The larva is pale ochreous-grey; dorsal line darker; spots light brownish; head light or dark brown, darker-marked; plate of 2 sometimes dark brown.[1]

The moth flies from June to September depending on the location.

The larvae feed on various grasses.

Subspecies edit

  • Pediasia aridella aridella
  • Pediasia aridella caradjaellus (Rebel, 1907)
  • Pediasia aridella edmontellus (McDunnough, 1923)

References edit

  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

External links edit