Scythris cicadella
| Scythris cicadella | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Scythrididae |
| Genus: | Scythris |
| Species: | S. cicadella
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| Binomial name | |
| Scythris cicadella | |
| Synonyms | |
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Scythris cicadella, the sand owlet, is a moth of the family Scythrididae found in Europe. It was first described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1839.
Description[edit]
The wingspan is 9–11 mm. The forewings are deep brown. Females have numerous bluish-white scales while males are heavily dusted, giving the forewings an almost white appearance. Adults are on wing from mid-May to the end of June flying during the day visiting flowers.[2]
The larvae feed on annual knawel (Scleranthus annuus) and perennial knawel (Scleranthus perennis). Other foodplants are likely as knawel is not found in Sweden; the likely foodplant is Scleranthus cicadella. Larvae can be found in May and June attached to the foodplant, living in a long silken gallery made of sand and debris.[3]
Distribution[edit]
S. cicadella is found in central and south-western Europe in areas of dry or sandy soil.[4] Has been found in small numbers in parts of south-eastern England in the past.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ "Scythris cicadella (Zeller, 1839)". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "microlepidoptera.nl". Archived from the original on 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2013-12-10.
- ^ Bengtsson, B A (2002). Emmet, A Maitland; Langmaid, John R (eds.). Scythrididae. In The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Volume 4 (Part 1). Colchester: Harley Books. pp. 290–1. ISBN 0 946589 66 6.
- ^ Savela, Mark. "Scythris Hübner, [1825]". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ Kimber, Ian. "Scythris cicadella (Zeller, 1839)". UKmoths. Retrieved 30 May 2020.