David Element
Wildlife Photography and Digital Video Images
_____________________________________________________________________Moths
89 – Muslin Moths
MUSLIN
MOTH Diaphora mendica (f)
MUSLIN
MOTH Diaphora mendica (f) MUSLIN MOTH Diaphora
mendica (f)
·
The Muslin Moth Diaphora
mendica (Arctiidae; Arctiinae) is sexually
dimorphic in most of the UK, where males are brown and females white (as shown
above). In the case of the latter the scale covering is comparatively thin,
meaning the forewings are sufficiently transparent for the hindwings to be
visible underneath them when the moth is at rest with its wings closed. Continental
European and Irish males are variable in their ground colour, with white, buff,
grey, and dark brown wings all occurring. There is also variation in the size
and number of black spots. The most likely confusion species are the White Ermine
Spilosoma lubricipeda, the Buff
Ermine S. luteum, and the Water
Ermine Moths S. urticae but all of these are larger, and the spot-patterns
are noticeably different in their distribution. The larvae can feed on many
herbaceous plants and this moth is common and widespread.
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