Euthrix potatoria
| Drinker | |
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| Euthrix potatoria. Male | |
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| Female | |
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| Species: | E. potatoria
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| Binomial name | |
| Euthrix potatoria | |
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Euthrix potatoria, the drinker, is an orange-brown moth of the family Lasiocampidae.[1]
The species' common and scientific names derive from the larva's supposed drinking of drops of dew.[2]
Name
The scientific name Euthryx potatoria was given to this moth by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. In choosing the name potatoria ‘drinker-like’, he was inspired by the Dutch entomologist Johannes Goedaert, who had called the animal dronckaerdt ‘drunkard’ “because it is very much inclined to drinking”.[3] This remark refers to the moth’s habit of repeatedly plunging its head into the water.[4] The English name drinker (moth) also refers to Goedaert’s analogy.
Subspecies
Subspecies include:[1]
- Euthrix potatoria mikado Bryk
- Euthrix potatoria potatoria (Linnaeus, 1758)
Distribution and habitat
This species can be found in Europe.[5] The species is fairly common in the southern half of Britain.[citation needed] In Scotland, it is common in the west but not in the east of the country.[1] It is most frequently found in marshy places, fens and riversides but may also be seen in drier, grassy terrain.[6][7]
Status
In a recent survey[citation needed] to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Description
Imago
The imago has a wingspan of 45–65 mm. The yellowish females are slightly larger than the orange-brown male but both sexes usually show the two distinctive white spots on the forewing.[7] Females have slightly serrated antennae, while male have deeply combed antennae.[8]
Larvae and pupae
The fully grown larva is about 6 cm long, hairy, striped and spotted, with distinctive tufts fore and aft. Larvae hibernate while young and resume feeding in the spring, pupating in a cocoon during the summer.[6]
Biology
This nocturnal moth flies from June to August depending on the location. Males especially are attracted to light.[6][7] The females lay their eggs in small clusters, mainly on the stem of grasses or reeds.[8] The larvae feed on various grasses and reeds (Alopecurus, Deschampsia, Dactylis, Elytrigia, Carex, Luzula and other Gramineae).[9]
Gallery
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Drinker moth caterpillar eating grass. -
Hibernating larva -
Caterpillar -
Caterpillar (ventral) -
Mounted specimen. Male -
Female
![[1]](http://eastscotland-butterflies.org.uk/freqmaps/1640.GIF){kind=link}
References
- ^ a b Biolib
- ^ "The Drinker Euthrix potatoria". UK Moths. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
- ^ Goedaert, J. (1660), Metamorphosis naturalis. Middelburgh: Jaques Fierens (p. 47).
- ^ Beelen, H., & Van der Sijs, N. (2018). Natneus, molenaar, hypocriet. Insectennamen uit de zeventiende eeuw. Onze Taal, 2018(7/8), 26-27.
- ^ Fauna europaea
- ^ a b c Ford, R.L.E. (1963). Larger British Moths. Frederick Warne.
- ^ a b c UK Moths
- ^ a b Insight.com/drinker-moth-euthrix-potatoria-bf-1640/ Wildliifeinsight[permanent dead link]
- ^ Paolo Mazzei, Daniel Morel, Raniero Panfili Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa
External links
