- Mint moth
-
Pyrausta aurata 
Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Crambidae Genus: Pyrausta Species: P. aurata Binomial name Pyrausta aurata
Scopoli, 1763Synonyms - Pyrausta deficiens Dufrane, 1957
- Pyrausta inciae Koçak, 1981
- Botys purpuralis var. meridionalis Staudinger, 1879
The mint moth (Pyrausta aurata) is a small moth from the family Crambidae, active by day.
The purplish-brown wings have a span from 10 to 15 millimetres, and a single golden yellow spot on each overwing and underwing. The moth is very similar to the related Pyrausta purpuralis, a slightly larger moth with a larger number of yellow spots.
As the name suggests, the mint moth often uses mint as a food plant, though it can also be found on other species such as marjoram. In north-west Europe it can be seen from April until the end of September, and is capable of having two generations in each season.
External links
Categories:- Pyraustinae
- Animals described in 1763
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