| Gold-ribbon Argent (Argyresthia brockeella (Hübner, 1813)) |
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Scientific name: Argyresthia brockeella (Hübner, 1813) Common name: Gold-ribbon Argent French name: Argyresthia brockeella Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Microlepidoptera Family: Argyresthiidae Subfamily: Argyresthiinae Wingspan: 9-12mm. Biotope: Open woodlands, river banks, parks and gardens with presence of the host trees. Geographic area: Europe, Asia east to eastern Siberia and Japan. Flight time: May to July and then August to early September. Number of generations : 1 and sometimes 2 on favourable years. Caterpillar: Pinkish with a black head. Host plant: Buds then catkins on Birches (Betula spp.) and Common Alders (Alnus glutinosa). |
The microlepidoptera of the Yponomeutoidea superfamily and of the Argyresthiidae family are often observed landed on their two first pairs of legs with their body raised at 50 degrees. Argyresthia brockeella shows metallic golden bronze fore wings with white spots. You can distinguish a white basal spot and a white median cross band which is wider on the inner edge than on the costal edge. Then there are three white spots on the costal edge and one larger and triangular one on the inner edge. The white spots may show a light bronze colour on some specimens. The hind wings are greyish and bear a long fringe. Argyresthia goedartella is a slightly lighter colour. One white post median band crosses completely the fore wings and so the preceding metallic golden bronze patch draws the shape of a Y character. |
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The presence of Birches in my garden may explain the observation of this nice micro moth. |
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Upper side view. |
André Bon March 2016