Pechipogo strigilata

• Subfamily: Herminiinae
• Wingspan: 27-34 mm
• Flight period: May - Aug
• Spread: Uncommon
• Host plants: Betulaceae, Corylaceae, Fagaceae

Information

The Pechipogo strigilata is a moth of the Erebidae family with a wingspan of 27-34 mm. Widespread throughout Europe with the exception of Greece and Iceland (like most of the lepidoptera of the site). In Italy it is absent from the islands. *

The background color of the front wings of the Pechipogo strigilata is ocher with very dense yellow and brown dusting; a dark mark is visible on the discoid cell. The internal and external lines are brownish, more or less parallel, the internal line curves in the direction of the discoid cell, the external, curves more widely beyond the cell itself. The subterminal line is oblique, and a faint external line is visible. Dark subterminal, externally bordered with clear. **

The hind wings are similar to the front wings, lighter and with only two lines crossing.
The palps are long, curved near the apex. The head, thorax and abdomen are the same color as the front wings.

The larva is opaque red - ocher in color, has a marked darker dorsal line and diamond-shaped lateral designs.
The pupa is cylindrical, thinned near the vertex, of a reddish brown color. The pupation happens on dry leaves inside a silky cocoon covered with plant residues. Not very common this moth flies at night from late May until early July and can be attracted to artificial light.

The caterpillar feeds on green leaves, on trees of various families, on the Betulaceae it feeds on Alnus (alder) and Betula (birch), on the Corylaceae it feeds on Carpinus (hornbeam), of the Fagaceae it feeds on Fagus (beech) and Quercus sp. (oaks).


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** Seitz, A. ed. (1914). Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde , Verlag Alfred Kernen, Stoccarda Band 3: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen eulenartigen Nachtfalter.