| March Dagger Moth (Diurnea fagella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)) |
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Scientific name: Diurnea fagella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) Common name: March Dagger Moth French name: Chimabache du hêtre, Diurne du hêtre. Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Microlepidoptera Family: Lypusidae Subfamily: Chimabachinae Wingspan: 26 to 30 mm for males, 15 to 20 mm for females with much shorter wings. Biotope: Woodlands, forests. Geographic area: Europe, Asia Minor, Armenia, Georgia. Flight time: March to May. Number of generations : 1 Caterpillar: Light yellowish to light greenish with yellow at the segment junction. The head is brown. The prothoracic plate is yellowish and may be marked by small brown lateral spots. Caterpillars of the Chimabachinae subfamily have swollen third legs, which are thought to be used to "drum" on the substrate to mark a territory. Host plant: Beeches (Fagus spp.), Oaks (Quercus spp.), Birches (Betula spp.), Hazels (Corylus spp.), Apple trees (Malus spp.), Willows (Salix spp). |
The forewings of the March Dagger Moth are greyish to brownish in colour with black markings. The antemedian area has a dark V-shaped mark preceded by a much lighter area. The tip of the V extends into a small straight line. Then there are two small black spots near the costal edge in the medial area. The legs are ringed. The hind wings are greyish. There is a much darker melanistic form. Females have much shorter wings and do not fly. They move by quickly walking. |
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The general colour, the V-shaped mark preceded by light and the two spots near the costal edge allow the identification of the March Dagger Moth. I would like to see the caterpillar one day with its swollen third pair of legs, sticking out at the sides. |
André Bon April 2025