Palpita vitrealis (Crambidae) - Butterflies of Crete

Palpita vitrealis, Crete - photo © K. Bormpoudaki

Palpita vitrealis (Rossi, 1794)

MOTH INFO

Palpita vitrealis is a moth of the family Crambidae on the island of Crete, Greece.

Scientific name

Palpita vitrealis (Rossi, 1794)

Synonyms

Phalaena vitrealis Rossi, 1794

Pyralis unionalis Hübner, 1796

Palpita unionalis (Hübner, 1796)

Margaronia unionalis (Hübner, 1796)

Margarodes unionalis (Hübner, 1796)

Conchia unionalis (Hübner, 1796)

Glyphodes unionalis (Hübner, 1796)

Botys quinquepunctalis Boisduval, 1833

Margaronia transvisalis Guénée, 1854

Magarodes septempunctalis Mabille, 1880

Common name

Jasmine Moth, White Pearl, Olive-tree Pearl

Classification

Superfamily: Pyraloidea > Family: Crambidae > Subfamily: Spilomelinae > Tribus: Margaroniini > Genus: Palpita

Wingspan

27-32 mm

Appearance

The general color of the translucent wings is pearly white with a slight sheen.

There is a rather broad orange or brown border on the upper edge of the forewings. Two black spots are also present in the middle of the forewings. Legs are white and brown-ringed.

Habitat

Olive groves, gardens, and parks.

Food plant

The larva is oligophagous on Oleaceae (Olea europaea, Phillyrea latifolia, Jasminus officinale, Ligustrum).

Larvae live among spun leaves, eating them from their underpart epidermis and parenchyma. Later, they feed on large pieces or even the whole leaves and stems.

Flight period

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Links

Lepiforum e. V.

Lepidoptera Mundi

Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa

Plant Parasites of Europe

Phrygana.eu