- Merrifieldia tridactyla
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Merrifieldia tridactyla Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Pterophoridae Genus: Merrifieldia Species: M. tridactyla Binomial name Merrifieldia tridactyla
(Linnaeus, 1758)Synonyms - Merrifieldia tridactylus
- Phalaena Alucita tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758
- Pterophorus fuscolimbatus Duponchel, 1844
- Pterophorus icterodactylus Mann, 1855
- Alucita icterodactyla ab. noctis Caradja, 1920
- Alucita spicidactyla flavella Chrétien, 1923
- Alucita baliodactyla menthae Chrétien, 1925
- Alucita icterodactyla philippsi Huggins, 1955
- Aciptilia exilidactyla Buszko, 1975
- Merrifieldia neli Bigot & Picard, 1989
Merrifieldia tridactyla is a moth of the Pterophoridae family. It is known from most of Europe, as well as North Africa and Asia Minor.
The wingspan is 18-23 mm. Adults are on wing from June to July in western Europe.
The larvae feed on Thymus species (including Thymus serpyllum and Thymus vulgaris) and Mentha species in Europe. In Saudi Arabia, larvae have been recorded feeding on the fruits of Cucurbita moschata. The young larvae nibble the fruit skin, but older larvae eat large areas in the fruit, causing discoloration and surface dryness. Pupation usually takes place on the upper-surface of the leaf.
External links
- Fauna Europaea
- First Record of a Pterophorid Moth, Merrifieldia tridactyla, Causing Damage to Long Guard Fruits Cucurbita moschata (Cucurbitaceae) in Saudi Arabia
- UKmoths
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