Gymnoscelis rufifasciata

• Subfamily: Larentiinae, Eupitheciini
• Wingspan: 15-18 mm
• Flight period: Apr - Sep
• Spread: Common
• Host plants: Polyphagous

Information

The Gymnoscelis rufifasciata also called Double-striped Pug is a moth of the Geometridae family, Larentiinae subfamily, with a wingspan of 15-18 mm.
It is distributed throughout Europe. *
In Italy it is also present in the islands. *
It is a common and fairly widespread species, in fact it is present throughout the Palearctic region, including the Middle East and North Africa.

The coloring of the Gymnoscelis rufifasciata wings is variable but always recognizable thanks to the two evident dark bands that cross each wing. The background color ranges from light brown to dark reddish with hints of ocher. The transverse lines are distinct. The inner margin of the sub-marginal line is pale white and bears black markings. The hind wings are light gray with darker fringes and lines and a small black discal spot.
Head, thorax and abdomen are in the background color of the wings, the abdomen has a darker band on the first segment.

It has two or three generations a year, with first generation adults visible from April to May (sometimes even earlier though rarely), in July and August, and sometimes then in autumn. Purely nocturnal, they are attracted to light and flowers, and to any other food sources.

The eggs are ovoid yellow, shiny slightly knurled. The caterpillars are white / yellowish with red / purplish lateral bands, on the back is visible a series of spots in the shape of "V" , always of a red / purplish color that they can rarely join in a single band composed of rhomboid spots. The chrysalis is light green and becomes amber near the Cremaster, which has a series of filiform hooked appendages of amber color. **

The larva is polyphagous and feeds on a wide range of plants, such as Calluna (Brugo), Clematis, Citrus (citrus), Cynara (thistle, artichoke), Cytisus (Ginestra), Dianthus (Carnation), Diospyros, Epilobium, Ilex (Holly), Ipomoea (Sweet potato), Lycopersicon (Tomato), Malus (Apple tree), Olea (Olive tree), Rosa, Rubus (Raspberry), Senecio, Sorbus (Sorbo), Ulex, Vicia and Zea (corn).


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** Bestimmungshilfe für die in Europa nachgewiesenen Schmetterlingsarten - http://lepiforum.de/