Herminia tarsicrinalis

• Subfamily: Herminiinae
• Wingspan: 28-32 mm
• Flight period: May - Sep
• Spread: Uncommon
• Host plants: Polyphagous

Information

Herminia tarsicrinalis is a moth of the Erebidae family with a wingspan of 28-32 mm. Widespread throughout Europe with the exception of Norway, Ireland and Iceland, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands and Cyprus. In Italy it is absent from the islands. *

The background color of the front wings ranges from hazel to light brown. There are three brown transversal lines in the basal areas, discal and postdiscal as well as a line, of the same color along the margin. While the postdiscal and basal lines (the latter curve near the costa) are almost parallel to the outer margin, the discal line has a wavy course. A small, brown, curved line is present in the discoid cell. The hind wings are of the same color as the fore wings, but less intense.

It has one or two generations depending on the latitude, in Italy it is visible from late May to early September. Herminia tarsicrinalis is found mainly in open woods, with dense undergrowth vegetation. More rarely, grasslands rich in shrubs, swamps, settlements or other habitats with woody plants are colonized. It overwinters in the larva stage. The caterpillar is brown, with reddish variegations, it has a darker dorsal band interrupted, in each segment, by lighter signs in the shape of "V" . Some black spots are visible on the side. Sparse hair is present.

The caterpillar is polyphagous and feeds on green leaves, dead or dying, of Rubus and Taraxacum, ** secondarily also of Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae and Urticaceae. *


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa - https://leps.it/