| Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis (Scopoli, 1763)) |
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Scientific name: Pleuroptya ruralis (Scopoli, 1763) Common name: Mother of Pearl French name: Pyrale du houblon, Pyrale opaline, Pyrale campagnarde. Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Heterocera Family: Crambidae Subfamily: Spilomelinae Wingspan: 26-40 mm. Biotope: Waste lands, woodland edges, track sides and unimproved meadows. Geographic area: From western Europe to far eastern Asia, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Asia Minor. Flight time: June to September. Number of generations : 1 Caterpillar: It is a pale green colour and hides in a rolled-up leaf on the host plant. Host plant: Mainly Common Nettle (Urtica dioica), but also Common Hop (Humulus lupulus), Goosefoots (Chenopodium sp.) and Saltbushes (Atriplex sp.) |
The Mother of Pearl's four wings are rather visible when the moth is landed. They show a colourful sheen and brown cross lines. The post-median line is very wavy and draws some kind of a row of U-shaped markings. The antennae are thread-like. Mothers of Pearl over winter as caterpillars. |
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This Mother of Pearl was attracted to light into the house. Here it is, landed on one curtain of the kitchen. |
André Bon June 2017