Euchromius superbellus

• Subfamily: Crambinae
• Wingspan: 15-20 mm
• Flight period: May - Aug
• Spread: Common
• Host plants: Decomposed leaves

Information

The Euchromius superbellus is a moth of the Crambidae family, subfamily Crambinae, with a wingspan of 15-20 mm.
It can be found in France, Spain, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Greece, Russia, * the Transcaucasia region, Turkey and Armenia. **
In Italy it is also present in the islands. *

The Euchromius superbellus has the wing pattern which is quite typical for the species; the base color of the front wings is dusty gray and they have a perpendicular middle band of ocher color, a series of black submarginal points clearly visible.
Similar to Euchromius bellus it is distinguished from it by the number of points on the edge of the wing which are 7 unlike the 8-9 of the Euchromius superbellus . The front wings are wider and shorter and without the presence of yellow, the midline is a darker yellow with a frame brownish exterior instead of silver. The fringes are shiny copper. The tips of the wings are ocher / yellow. The palps are longer than the Euchromius bellus , the head is yellow-gray and the thorax gray-brown.

Adults are visible from May to August depending on the Latitude. In Sicily and Sardinia it is easily confused with the congener Euchromius gozmanyi .

The larvae feed on decayed leaves.


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** Savela, Markku. "Euchromius Guenée, 1845". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. - http://ftp.funet.fi/