Euthrix potatoria

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Drinker
Philudoria potatoria m 9995.jpg
Euthrix potatoria. Male
Lasiocampidae - Euthrix potatoria.jpg
Female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Lasiocampidae
Genus:
Euthrix
Species:
E. potatoria
Binomial name
Euthrix potatoria
Synonyms
  • Philudoria potatoria

Euthrix potatoria, the drinker, is an orange-brown moth of the family Lasiocampidae.[1]

The species' common and scientific names derive from the larva's supposed drinking of drops of dew.[2]

Name[]

The scientific name Euthryx potatoria was given to this moth by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. In choosing the name potatoria ‘drinker-like’, he was inspired by the Dutch entomologist Johannes Goedaert, who had called the animal dronckaerdt ‘drunkard’ “because it is very much inclined to drinking”.[3] This remark refers to the moth’s habit of repeatedly plunging its head into the water.[4] The English name drinker (moth) also refers to Goedaert’s analogy.

Subspecies[]

Subspecies include:[1]

  • Euthrix potatoria mikado Bryk
  • Euthrix potatoria potatoria (Linnaeus, 1758)

Distribution and habitat[]

This species can be found in Europe.[5] The species is fairly common in the southern half of Britain.[citation needed] In Scotland, it is common in the west but not in the east of the country.[1] It is most frequently found in marshy places, fens and riversides but may also be seen in drier, grassy terrain.[6][7]

Status[]

In a recent survey[citation needed] to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.

Description[]

Imago[]

The imago has a wingspan of 45–65 mm. The yellowish females are slightly larger than the orange-brown male but both sexes usually show the two distinctive white spots on the forewing.[7] Females have slightly serrated antennae, while male have deeply combed antennae.[8]

Larvae and pupae[]

The fully grown larva is about 6 cm long, hairy, striped and spotted, with distinctive tufts fore and aft. Larvae hibernate while young and resume feeding in the spring, pupating in a cocoon during the summer.[6]

Biology[]

This nocturnal moth flies from June to August depending on the location. Males especially are attracted to light.[6][7] The females lay their eggs in small clusters, mainly on the stem of grasses or reeds.[8] The larvae feed on various grasses and reeds (Alopecurus, Deschampsia, Dactylis, Elytrigia, Carex, Luzula and other Gramineae).[9]

Gallery[]

  • Drinker moth caterpillar eating grass.

  • Hibernating larva

  • Caterpillar

  • Caterpillar (ventral)

  • Mounted specimen. Male

  • Female

References[]

  1. ^ a b Biolib
  2. ^ "The Drinker Euthrix potatoria". UK Moths. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  3. ^ Goedaert, J. (1660), Metamorphosis naturalis. Middelburgh: Jaques Fierens (p. 47).
  4. ^ Beelen, H., & Van der Sijs, N. (2018). Natneus, molenaar, hypocriet. Insectennamen uit de zeventiende eeuw. Onze Taal, 2018(7/8), 26-27.
  5. ^ Fauna europaea
  6. ^ a b c Ford, R.L.E. (1963). Larger British Moths. Frederick Warne.
  7. ^ a b c UK Moths
  8. ^ a b Insight.com/drinker-moth-euthrix-potatoria-bf-1640/ Wildliifeinsight[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ Paolo Mazzei, Daniel Morel, Raniero Panfili Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa

External links[]

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