Copper underwing

Amphipyra pyramidea
Copper underwing moth
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Amphipyra
Species: A. pyramidea
Binomial name
Amphipyra pyramidea

The copper underwing, humped green fruitworm, or pyramidal green fruitworm (Amphipyra pyramidea) is a moth of the family Noctuidae.

Distribution

This species can be found throughout the US and southern Canada[1] as well as across the Palaearctic region including Europe, North Africa, the Near East, Iran, South Siberia, north India, Korea and Japan.[2][3] It is rather common over the southern half of Britain.[4]

Description

This species has a wingspan of 47–54 mm,[4] the female usually slightly larger than the male. The forewings are brown marked with paler fascia and a pale, dark-centred stigma. The hindwings are a rich bright copper colour (hence the common name of copper underwing).

It is very similar to Svensson's copper underwing (Amphipyra berbera) but identification is usually fairly straightforward by looking at some markings on the forewings,[5] the detail of the labial palps[4] and at the underside of the hindwings. This species has a pale area in the centre of the hindwings, contrasting with much darker marginal areas, while in A. berbera the whole underwing is more or less uniform in colour. The larva is green with white markings and a pointed hump at the rear end.

Differenciation of A. pyramidea from A. berbera

Biology

It is an univoltine species. Hatching season is as early as June in some climates but usually hatch July to October. Eggs are laid in deciduous trees. Larva can be found as early as April in some climates but usually emerge in May–June. A pyramidea flies at night from August to October and is attracted to light and strongly to sugar.[4] It feeds on a variety of trees and shrubs, including ash tree (Fraxinus), privet (Ligustrum), honeysuckle (Lonicera), apple (Malus), oak (Quercus), Rhododendron, rose, wild service tree (Sorbus) and lilac (Syringa).[6][4][2][7] The species overwinters as an egg.

  1. ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

References

  1. ↑ http://bugguide.net/node/view/13299
  2. 1 2 Funet
  3. ↑ Fauna Europaea
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Copper underwing on UKmoths
  5. ↑ Entomart
  6. ↑ "Robinson, G. S., P. R. Ackery, I. J. Kitching, G. W. Beccaloni & L. M. Hernández, 2010. HOSTS - A Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants. Natural History Museum, London".
  7. ↑ Paolo Mazzei, Daniel Morel, Raniero Panfili Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa
  • Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
  • Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984
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