Anthophila fabriciana

Anthophila fabriciana
Anthophila fabriciana, upperside
Lateral view
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Choreutidae
Genus:	Anthophila
Species:	A. fabriciana
Binomial name
Anthophila fabriciana (Linnaeus, 1767)
Synonyms
List Phalaena Tortrix fabriciana Linnaeus, 1767 Phalaena Tinea oxyacanthella Linnaeus, 1767 Tortrix urticana [Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775 Phalaena Pallium excisum Retzius, 1783 Phalaena Tortrix gilibertiana Villers, 1789 Crambus oxyacanthae Fabricius, 1798 Tortrix dentana Hübner, [1799] Anthophila fabricii Haworth, 1811 Asopia alternalis Treitschke, 1829 Simaethis parietariae Stainton, 1855

Anthophila fabriciana, also known as the common nettle-tap, is a moth of the family Choreutidae.

This species can be found in most of Europe and it occurs throughout Britain. It is also widespread from China (Taiwan, Xinjiang), the Himalaya, Mongolia, Russia, Korea, Japan (Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku), Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, the Canary Islands, Madeira, Asia Minor, Zakavkazye and the Oriental region. In 2013 it was reported to be present in Canada (Manitoba).

These moths inhabit waste ground, hedgerows and gardens.

Anthophila fabriciana has a wingspan of 10–15 millimetres (0.39–0.59 in). The forewings are a patchwork of dark browhish fuscous marbled with pale grey, with yellowish white costal spot and post-median fascia. The abdomen shows large pale bands.

This species is rather similar to Choreutis pariana, which has whitish markings only along costa.

The moth flies in two generation per year from May to October depending on the location. They are active during the day. The larvae live in a web on the leaves of the host plants. They feed on Urtica dioica, Parietaria officinalis and Symphytum tuberosum.

Mating

Caterpillars

Moth, real life

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Wikipedia