Hymenia recurvalis

jonagius · Post by **jonagius** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 5:46 pm

Hi folks,

This time here is a small moth which flies both during the day and night.

Species: Hymenia recurvalis (Fabricius, 1775)
Family: Pyralidae
Subfamily: Pyraustinae
Common Name: No common name.
Maltese Name: Spoladea
Flight period: Sep - Oct in 1 generation.
Distribution: Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, UK, France, Spain, Corsica, Malta and North Africa.
Local status: A very common moth in Autumn
Larval foodplants: a pest on Beta, Zea, and Spinacia
Similar species: Diasemiopsis ramburialis (Duponchel, 1834) but this species has much less prominent white markings than the H. recurvalis.
Notes: One of the few species that fly during the day.

Conchiolin · Post by **Conchiolin** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 7:16 pm

Is that moth a pest cause i have a little patch for some green beans and it is loaded with that moth and the leaves are all swiss cheese! Perhaps the larva feeds on the leaves of the plant?

Post by **MWP admin** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 1:53 pm

jonagius info suggest that the larvae feeds on the Chenopodiaceae (spinach family) with genii like Beta and Spinacia and possibly wild Chenopodium spp. Zea (maize) is on the other hand a grass. Just to give you an brief explanation of the Genii mentioned as Larva food plants

Conchiolin · Post by **Conchiolin** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 3:19 pm

Hmmm Chenopodium but the patch is loaded with those weeds too so the damage is not done by this moth.

Is the caterpillar by any chance the larva of this moth?
Thanks.

Conchiolin · Post by **Conchiolin** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 3:21 pm

Almost forgot here's the caterpillar!

Conchiolin · Post by **Conchiolin** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 3:23 pm

Almost forgot here's the caterpillar!

Post by **MWP admin** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 3:27 pm

I seen one of those few days ago. It has a rapid twiggling type of locomotion, and it makes fast 'twitches' (help! cant find a good word) to defend itself when it is attacked, which to be honest it scared me.

We wait the experts Conch (ps check the email)

RB · Post by RB » Mon Oct 01, 2007 4:47 pm

"...which to be honest it scared me. "

hahaha MWP did it come running after you

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 11:23 pm

well I must say the butterfly has a gangster like look!

Conchiolin · Post by **Conchiolin** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 11:33 am

Some worms can be pretty scary i admit it. Tapeworms etc. Once i was uprooting this plant. And bam! A huge white worm 4cm came out of nowhere it literally started jumping like it was on fire by using convulsions each time jumping 6cm or something like that. It made my butt cheeks clench so much that if you popped in a piece of coal i would have crapped a diamond with fear!!!