Black Arches

Black Arches
Black Arches
Male Black Arches
Female (dark variant)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lymantriidae
Genus: Lymantria
Species: L. monacha
Binomial name
Lymantria monacha
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
  • Phalaena monacha Linnaeus, 1758
  • Liparis monacha (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Ocneria monacha (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Porthetria monacha (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Psilura monacha (Linnaeus, 1758)

The Black Arches or Nun Moth, Lymantria monacha[1] is a small Palaearctic moth.

Contents

Description

Illustration from John Curtis's British Entomology Volume 5
Caterpillar
Pupa
Illustration of a mounted specimen

The moth has white forewings with black connected wavy arches which gives the moth its name. The light brown hindwings have white fringes having black spots. Female is larger and has elongated wings. The moth also has a characteristic biscuit-coloured abdomen with a black band. The moth has a wingspan of 4 to 5 cm.[1]

Range

Europe. British Isles. Palearctic regions of Asia. Japan.[1]

Life cycle

The caterpillar of the Black Arches is grey and hirsute. It has black lines and spots on its back.[1]

Foodplants

Oak (Quercus) and other broad-leaved trees, and Pinus.[1]

Cited references

  1. ^ a b c d e Carter, David. Butterflies and Moths, Dorling Kindersley, pg 271

References

  • Carter, David (1992) Butterflies and Moths. Dorling Kindersley Handbooks, London. ISBN 0-7513-2707-7.

See also


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