| Eudonia delunella (Stainton, 1849) |
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Scientific name: Eudonia delunella (Stainton, 1849) Common name: French name: Eudonie des lichens Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Heterocera Family: Crambidae Subfamily: Scopariinae Wingspan: 17-18 mm. Biotope: Geographic area: Europe. Flight time: May to August. Number of generations : 1 Caterpillar: The caterpillar grows in a silken tube on mosses, usually on tree trunks, and sometimes on rocks or walls. Host plant: Various mosses. |
It is very difficult to tell apart the different species of the Scopariinae subfamily only with pictures. Eudonia delunella shows very contrasting black and white colours. The centre of the fore wings is uniformly white coloured with sparse dark scaling. There are large black spots near the costal edge. Eudonia mercurella) and Eudonia lacustrata show a thin, wavy, black or white, submarginal line. It is missing or hardly visible on Eudonia delunella. |
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I am used to observing numerous Eudonia mercurella against the wall of the house in July-August. The first moths of the Eudonia observed in the year, in may, show a very different colour. They are much paler with more contrasted black marks. You cannot distinguish any very thin and sharp submarginal line. This is probably Eudonia delunella but I am not 100% sure. |
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The black patches on the costal edge are better marked on this specimen. |
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Side view. |
André Bon December 2012