Hypsopygia costalis (Fabricius, 1775) Species
Last modified: April 19, 2024, 2:46 p.m.
A common species throughout Belgium, more observed in the northern part.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Pyralidae > Subfamily: Pyralinae > Tribus: Pyralini > Genus: Hypsopygia > Species: Hypsopygia costalis
- Vernacular names
- Triangelmot (NL), Gold Triangle (EN), Pyrale du Fourrage (FR), Heuzünsler (DE)
- Synonyms
- Hypsopygia fimbrialis (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
- First mention in Belgium
- De Fré Ch. 1858. Catalogue des Microlépidoptères de la Belgique. — Annales de la Société entomologique belge 2: 45–162. On page 58 (as Asopia Frimbialis. [sic] H.). view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
wingspan 18–22 mm. It is a striking purple-red micro butterfly with a wide yellow border on the edge of the front wing.
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
Bionomics
The eggs hatch in September. The larvae eat until they are half-grown and then go into hibernation to complete their development in the spring. Pupates in May/June in a sturdy oval cocoon in the larval feeding place.
It has two distinctly different resting postures. In one, the moth adopts a 'triangular' shape, with the hindwings hidden by the forewings. At full rest, all four wings are splayed out, and the tip of the abdomen is tilted upward.
The adults fly at night and come to light.
Flight periods
The adults fly from the beginning of May till the end of October, occasionally later.
Observed on
- Substrates:
- Dead leaves
The larvae live on hay of clover and grass, in squirrels' dreys, and probably also in thatch and dead leaves.
Habitat
It occurs everywhere, especially on sandy soils.
