Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma (Fabricius, 1777))
Scientific name: Pheosia gnoma (Fabricius, 1777)
Common name: Lesser Swallow Prominent
French name: Bombyx dictéoïde, Bombyx dictaeoïde, Faïence.
Order: Lepidoptera
Suborder: Heterocera
Family: Notodontidae
Subfamily: Notodontinae
Wingspan: 46-58 mm.
Biotope: Forests and meadows, plains and mountains with a damp climate. Missing in dry regions.
Geographic area: Eurasia, from northern Spain to the North Cape, east to China.
Flight time: April to June, then August to September.
Number of generations : 2
Caterpillar: Hairless, shiny russet brown on the upper side and on the under side, showing two yellow lateral stripes with the spiracles appearing as a black dot circled with white. There is a protuberance on the upper side of the eighth abdominal segment.
Host plant: Birches (Betula sp.) but also Willows (Salix sp.), Poplars (Populus sp.), Alders (Alnus sp.) and Oaks (Quercus sp.).
The Lesser Swallow Prominent is pale brown, grey and white. It shows a pure white triangular mark on the tornus of the fore wings.
The hind wings are greyish white with a dark patch close to the anal angle.
The Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula) is very similar. It is a slightly larger size and does not show this pure white patch on the fore wings. The patch is a little brownish, longer and thinner than on Pheosia gnoma.
The hind wings are whiter and also show a dark area next to the anal angle.

Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma) - Yvelines, France - August 11th 2011
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Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma)
Here is another observation of one moth using the north wall of the house as a diurnal resting place.
I had to use a ladder to shoot close-up pictures.
The pure white triangular mark, on the tornus of the fore wings indicates Pheosia gnoma.


Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma) - Yvelines, France - August 11th 2011
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Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma)
I have started to shoot picture from the far using the ladder installed like a double step ladder.
I have approached progressively to finish very close so that I have been able to use my 100mm macro lenses.


Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma) - Yvelines, France - August 11th 2011
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Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma)
Side view.

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