Argyresthia goedartella explained

Argyresthia goedartella, the bronze alder moth, is a species of moth of the family Argyresthiidae.

Distribution

This very common species can be found in most of Europe and in North America.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Description

Argyresthia goedartella has a wingspan of 10–13 mm.^{[5] [6]} These tiny moths have pale ochreous head with white antennae and white forewings with coppery-golden markings. A characteristic coppery-golden Y-shaped marking is present in the middle of the wings.^[5] Hindwings are dark gray. Abdomen is grayish fuscous, while legs are brownish white.^[6]

Biology

It is a univoltine species. These moths fly from May to October. They fly at night and on sunny afternoons and mainly feed on the nectar of tansy (Tanacetum vulgare).^[5] The larvae feed on birch (Betula species) and alder (Alnus glutinosa).^[2] They overwinter in a shoot or hard male catkin of the host plants. In late March or April, larvae congregate and pupate in a cocoon under the bark.^{[5] [6]}

Notes

1. The flight season refers to Belgium and The Netherlands. This may vary in other parts of the range.

External links

• • waarneming.nl
• Lepidoptera of Belgium
• Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet
• Commanster

Notes and References

1. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213445/http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=433987 Fauna Europaea
2. http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/yponomeutoidea/yponomeutidae/argyresthiinae/argyresthia/index.html#goedartella Funet - Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and some other life forms
3. http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=2457 Moth Photographers Group
4. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Argyresthia-goedartella Butterflies and Moths of North America
5. http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/argyresthia-goedartella/ UK Moths
6. Web site: Shpeley, D. . 2004 . amp . Species Details Argyresthia goedartella . University of Alberta Museums . E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum . November 8, 2020.