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Common swift moth

January 07, 2023

For the bird Apus apus, see Common swift.

The common swift (Korscheltellus lupulina) is a moth of the family Hepialidae. It was previously placed in the genus Hepialus. It is a common, often abundant European species. The species was described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.

Common swift
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hepialidae
Genus: Korscheltellus
Species:
K. lupulina
Binomial name
Korscheltellus lupulina
Synonyms
  • Noctua lupulinus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Hepialus lupulinus (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Pharmacis lupulina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Mounted
Caterpillar

Description

The male has a wingspan of about 30 mm with dark brown forewings with white apical and basal streaks meeting to make a "V" shape with another spot close to the costa. The hindwings are plain brown. The female is larger (wingspan about 40 mm) with similar patterning to the male but generally paler and less distinct. Patterns on the moths are highly variable, ranging from whitish to grey to pale brown with the females slightly larger and less strongly marked. Some individuals of both sexes are plain buff or brown with no pattern.[1] The moths do not have a proboscis, are unable to feed, and therefore, are not usually found at flowers.[2]

The adults fly at dusk in May and June[1] and the females broadcast the eggs, in a hovering flight, just above the vegetation. Males have a hovering flight and are reputed to emit a goatish scent.[3] The species overwinters as a larva.[4]

The orange swift (Triodia sylvina) and gold swift ('Phymatopus hecta') look similar, although the orange swift flies later in the year.[1]

Larvae

The larvae feed underground on the roots of a wide variety of plants (see list below) and can be an agricultural pest. They feed from July to April and when fully fed are 20 mm long with a shiny white body and brown head, prothoracic plate and pinacula. It pupates in a tunnel amongst the roots and uses the spines of the pupa to migrate to the surface, before emergance.[3]

Recorded food plants

Etymology

Previously placed in the genus Hepialus – from the Greek; hēpialos – meaning a fever, as in 'the fitful, alternating flight' of the moth. It has since been allocated to the genus Korscheltellus.[clarification needed] Carl Linnaeus originally gave the moth the specific name lupulinus in affinity with the ghost moth (Hepialus humuli). Humulus is the genus for hops and Linnaeus knew that the ghost moth fed on the roots of hops; he was not aware of the actual footplant of the common swift.[6]

Notes

  1. ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

References

  1. ^ a b Townsend, Martin; Waring, Paul; Lewington, Richard (2019). Concise Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland (Second ed.). London: Bloomsbury Wildlife Guides. pp. 10–11. ISBN 978 1 4729 5728 3.
  2. ^ Leverton, Roy (2001). Enjoying Moths. London: Poyser Natural History. p. 97. ISBN 0 85661 124 7.
  3. ^ a b Heath, John (1983). Hepialidae. In The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Volume 1. Colchester: Harley Books. pp. 166–70. ISBN 0 946589 15 1.
  4. ^ Kimber, Ian. "Common Swift Korscheltellus lupulina (Linnaeus, 1758)". UKmoths. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  5. ^ MAFF 1970.
  6. ^ Emmet, A Maitland (1991). The Scientific Names of the British Lepidoptera. Their history and meaning. Colchester: Harley Books. p. 42. ISBN 0-946589-35-6.

Bibliography

External links

  • Lepiforum e.V.

January 07, 2023
common, swift, moth, bird, apus, apus, common, swift, common, swift, korscheltellus, lupulina, moth, family, hepialidae, previously, placed, genus, hepialus, common, often, abundant, european, species, species, described, carl, linnaeus, 1758, 10th, edition, s. For the bird Apus apus see Common swift The common swift Korscheltellus lupulina is a moth of the family Hepialidae It was previously placed in the genus Hepialus It is a common often abundant European species The species was described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae Common swiftScientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder LepidopteraFamily HepialidaeGenus KorscheltellusSpecies K lupulinaBinomial nameKorscheltellus lupulina Linnaeus 1758 SynonymsNoctua lupulinus Linnaeus 1758 Hepialus lupulinus Linnaeus 1758 Pharmacis lupulina Linnaeus 1758 Mounted Caterpillar Contents 1 Description 1 1 Larvae 1 1 1 Recorded food plants 2 Etymology 3 Notes 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksDescription EditThe male has a wingspan of about 30 mm with dark brown forewings with white apical and basal streaks meeting to make a V shape with another spot close to the costa The hindwings are plain brown The female is larger wingspan about 40 mm with similar patterning to the male but generally paler and less distinct Patterns on the moths are highly variable ranging from whitish to grey to pale brown with the females slightly larger and less strongly marked Some individuals of both sexes are plain buff or brown with no pattern 1 The moths do not have a proboscis are unable to feed and therefore are not usually found at flowers 2 The adults fly at dusk in May and June 1 and the females broadcast the eggs in a hovering flight just above the vegetation Males have a hovering flight and are reputed to emit a goatish scent 3 The species overwinters as a larva 4 The orange swift Triodia sylvina and gold swift Phymatopus hecta look similar although the orange swift flies later in the year 1 Larvae Edit The larvae feed underground on the roots of a wide variety of plants see list below and can be an agricultural pest They feed from July to April and when fully fed are 20 mm long with a shiny white body and brown head prothoracic plate and pinacula It pupates in a tunnel amongst the roots and uses the spines of the pupa to migrate to the surface before emergance 3 Recorded food plants Edit Allium garlic Apium celery Brassica Chrysanthemum Dahlia Daucus carrot Fragaria strawberry Helianthus Jerusalem artichoke Humulus hop Lactuca lettuce Lycopersicon tomato Medicago alfalfa Narcissus daffodil 5 Pastinaca parsnip Phaseolus bean Pisum pea Poaceae grasses Ribes currant Rubus berries Solanum potatoEtymology EditPreviously placed in the genus Hepialus from the Greek hepialos meaning a fever as in the fitful alternating flight of the moth It has since been allocated to the genus Korscheltellus clarification needed Carl Linnaeus originally gave the moth the specific name lupulinus in affinity with the ghost moth Hepialus humuli Humulus is the genus for hops and Linnaeus knew that the ghost moth fed on the roots of hops he was not aware of the actual footplant of the common swift 6 Notes Edit The flight season refers to the British Isles This may vary in other parts of the range References Edit a b Townsend Martin Waring Paul Lewington Richard 2019 Concise Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland Second ed London Bloomsbury Wildlife Guides pp 10 11 ISBN 978 1 4729 5728 3 Leverton Roy 2001 Enjoying Moths London Poyser Natural History p 97 ISBN 0 85661 124 7 a b Heath John 1983 Hepialidae In The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Volume 1 Colchester Harley Books pp 166 70 ISBN 0 946589 15 1 Kimber Ian Common Swift Korscheltellus lupulina Linnaeus 1758 UKmoths Retrieved 8 November 2022 MAFF 1970 Emmet A Maitland 1991 The Scientific Names of the British Lepidoptera Their history and meaning Colchester Harley Books p 42 ISBN 0 946589 35 6 Bibliography Edit Narcissus pests 6th ed PDF Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food Bulletin 51 1970 Retrieved 20 December 2014 Chinery Michael 1986 reprinted 1991 Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe Skinner Bernard 1984 The Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles External links EditLepiforum e V Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Common swift moth amp oldid 1123736821, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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