Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Lepidoptera
- Family: Epermeniidae
- Genus: Epermenia
- Species: Epermenia profugella (Hübner, 1796)
Description
- Wingspan: 10–13 mm.
- Adult appearance: The forewings are generally ochreous‑whitish with distinct dark fuscous markings; the hindwings are grey. The moth is small and slender, typical of the family Epermeniidae.
Distribution
- Occurs throughout much of Europe, including the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Central Europe, and parts of Eastern Europe.
- It is absent from the Iberian Peninsula and most of the Balkan region, according to current faunal records.
Habitat
- Found in open woodland, hedgerows, and edge habitats where host plants occur.
Life cycle and biology
- Flight period: Adults are on the wing from June to August, with slight regional variation.
- Larval host plants: Documented larval feeding on the seeds of plants in the Apiaceae family, notably species of the genus Peucedanum. Larvae construct silken webs on the host plant while feeding.
- Pupation: Takes place within a cocoon attached to the host plant or nearby detritus.
Conservation status
- The species is not listed as threatened in European Red‑List assessments and is generally regarded as common within its range.
References
- Fauna Europaea, Epermenia profugella entry.
- UK Moths website, species profile for Epermenia profugella.
- Global Lepidoptera Names Index (LepIndex), Natural History Museum, London.
