Svensson's copper underwing
Species of moth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Svensson's copper underwing (Amphipyra berbera) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Charles E. Rungs in 1949. It is distributed throughout Europe including Russia east to the Urals.
| Svensson's copper underwing | |
|---|---|
| |
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Genus: | Amphipyra |
| Species: | A. berbera |
| Binomial name | |
| Amphipyra berbera Rungs, 1949 | |
.jpg)
This species has a wingspan of 47–56 mm, the female usually larger than the male. The forewings are brown, marked with pale fascia and a dark-centred pale stigma. The hindwings are bright copper-coloured. This species is very similar to the copper underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea) but can usually be distinguished by the pattern on the underside of the hindwings: A. pyramidea has a pale central area, contrasting strongly with darker margins; A berbera is much more uniformly coloured. See Townsend et al.[1]
A. berbera flies at night from July to September[a] and is attracted to light and strongly to sugar.
The larva feeds on a range of trees and shrubs (see list below). The species overwinters as an egg.
Recorded food plants
- Acer – sycamore maple
- Carpinus – hornbeam
- Populus – aspen
- Quercus – oak
- Rhododendron
- Salix – willow
- Sorbus – rowan
- Syringa – lilac
- Tilia – lime[2]
- Wisteria – Wisteria sinensis
Notes
- The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.
