Micropterix vulturensis

Micropterix vulturensis
Micropterix vulturensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Micropterigidae
Genus: Micropterix
Species: M. vulturensis
Binomial name
Micropterix vulturensis
Heath, 1981

Micropterix vulturensis is a species of moth belonging to the family Micropterigidae. It was described by Heath in 1981. It is widely distributed in the central and southern Apennines.[1]

At lower altitudes, it inhabits open, dry and somewhat rocky beech-mixed forest. Here, adults fly on sunny clearings, between thickets of Rubus and on grassy areas around bushes of Juniperus. In the mountains, it has been found up to 2000 meters, where they swarm around blossoming Pinus mugo in full sunshine, often also in small groups. They frequently sit on the male flowers, where they feed on the pollen.

The length of the forewings is 3.5-4.2 mm for males and 4.2-5 mm for females.

References