Dysgonia algira mating, Crete - photo © Nikos Marakis
Dysgonia algira
MOTH INFO
Dysgonia algira is a moth of the family Erebidae on the island of Crete, Greece.
Scientific name
Dysgonia algira
Phalaena algira (Linnaeus, 1767)
Phalaena achatina (Sulzer, 1776)
Noctua triangularis (Hübner, 1803)
Ophiusa albivitta (Guenée, 1852)
Ophiusa festina (Walker, 1858)
Ophiusa olympia (Swinhoe, 1885)
Common name
The Passenger
Classification
Superfamily: Noctuoidea > Family: Erebidae > Subfamily: Catocalinae > Tribus: Ophiusini > Genus: Dysgonia
Wingspan
38-46 mm
Appearance
The forewings are relatively broad with an acute apex and an almost straight edge. They are dark brown colored with rounded termen. The ground color is uniformly dark brown, with a light grey-brown median band broadened by slow degrees towards the dorsum and costa, forming an angle at halfway, and distinctly separated from a second brown region that elongates to the postmedian line. The subterminal area is light grey-brown and there are two dark brown tooth-like markings in apex.
The hindwings are brownish, and narrow, with a pale-light grey-brown transverse median band, and a broad light grey-brown subterminal area.
Fringes in both wings are whitish-ochreous with a fine, brownish median section.
Habitat
Dysgonia algira can be found in scrubs and woodlands.
Food Plant
The larva is polyphagous and feeds on the leaves of a variety of plants, i.e. Rubus, Leguminosae (Genista sp.), Lythraceae (Lythrum sp.), Urticaceae (Parietaria officinalis), Saliceae (Salix sp.), Euphorbiaceae (Ricinus communis), Punica granatum, etc.
Flight Period
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Links
Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa
Notes
The species is very similar to Dysgonia torrida, and can be distinguished by the characteristics shown in the photo on the right. In general, identification based on this external characteristic is doubtful.
