Epinotia mercuriana is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in most of Europe (except Iceland, the Benelux, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Iberian Peninsula, Ukraine, the Baltic region, and the Balkan Peninsula), east to the eastern part of the Palearctic realm.

Epinotia mercuriana
Epinotia mercuriana, Cwm Cywarch, North Wales
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Tortricidae
Genus: Epinotia
Species:
E. mercuriana
Binomial name
Epinotia mercuriana
(Frölich, 1828)
Synonyms
  • Tortrix mercuriana Frölich, 1828
  • Coccyx monticolana Duponchel, in Godart, 1842

The wingspan is about 11–14 mm. The forewings are very narrow and ferruginous in colour; The basal patch has a very oblique edge. The central fascia, and the terminal fascia are furcate on the costa and rather dark ferruginous - fuscous, edged with leaden-metallic striae which become whitish on the costa. The hindwings are grey.The larva is grey -green ; head palebrown ; plate of 2 grey.[1]

Adults are on wing from July to September. They are often found in the afternoon and in the early evenings.

The larvae feed on various low-growing moorland plants, including Calluna and Vaccinium myrtillus. They spin together leaves or shoots and feed within.

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