| Satin Grass-veneer (Crambus perlella (Scopoli, 1763)) |
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Scientific name: Crambus perlella (Scopoli, 1763) Common name: Satin Grass-veneer French name: Crambus perlé Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Heterocera Family: Crambidae Subfamily: Crambinae Wingspan: 21-28 mm. Biotope: Meadows among high grasses. Geographic area: Palaearctic region: Morocco, Europe, Asia east to Japan. Flight time: May to July then August to September. Number of generations : 2 Caterpillar: Pale greenish grey with a darker dorsal line and brown spots. The head is yellowish brown. It looks like several caterpillars of the Pyralidae family and this makes species identification quite impossible on picture. Host plant: Many herbaceous plants. |
Crambus perlella shows narrow fore wings like the other members of the family. The nominal form of the Satin Grass-veneer shows shiny whitish fore wings without any particular markings except some very weakly marked greyish streaks. The labial palps are clearly prominent and pointed at the front of the head The hind wings are greyish white. The warringtonellus form differs by clearly more contrasted markings letting appear one white broad longitudinal streak from the base of the wing to the dorsum and another one along the costal edge. There is a possible confusion with the pale forms of the Straw Grass-veneer (Agriphila straminella). This last species is a smaller size and shows black dots at the wings' margin. |
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This small Crambidae came to visit my light trap. I think that this is the typical warringtonellus form. |
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Another view of the same specimen. |
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Here is another example of the warringtonellus form but with much less contrasting colours. Is this linked to the fact that it is a moth of the first annual generation? |
André Bon February 2024
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