Common Swift (moth)

For the bird Apus apus, see Common Swift.

Common Swift
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Hepialidae
Genus:	Korscheltellus
Species:	K. lupulina
Binomial name
Korscheltellus lupulina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Noctua lupulinus Linnaeus, 1758 Hepialus lupulinus (Linnaeus, 1758) Pharmacis lupulina (Linnaeus, 1758)

The Common Swift (Korscheltellus lupulina) is a moth of the family Hepialidae. It was previously placed in the genus Hepialus. It is a common, often abundant European species.

Mounted

Caterpillar

The male has a wingspan of about 30 mm with dark brown forewings with white apical and basal streaks meeting to make a 'v' shape with another spot close to the costa. The hindwings are plain brown. The female is larger (wingspan about 40 mm) with similar patterning to the male but generally paler and less distinct. A significant proportion of individuals of both sexes are plain buff or brown with no pattern. The adults fly from May to July ^[1] and are attracted to light. The species overwinters as a larva.

The larvae feed underground on the roots of a wide variety of plants (see list below) and can be an agricultural pest.

1. ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

Recorded food plants

• Allium - Garlic
• Apium - Celery
• Brassica
• Chrysanthemum
• Dahlia
• Daucus - Carrot
• Fragaria - Strawberry
• Helianthus - Jerusalem artichoke
• Humulus - Hop
• Lactuca - Lettuce
• Lycopersicon - Tomato
• Medicago - Alfalfa
• Pastinaca - Parsnip
• Phaseolus - Bean
• Pisum - Pea
• Poaceae - Grasses
• Ribes - Currant
• Rubus
• Solanum - Potato

References

• Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
• Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984

External links

• Matthew Cooper's insects page

This article on a moth of the Hepialidae family is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Hepialidae Animals described in 1758 Hepialidae stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР Samajwadi Janata Party TK Records Look at other dictionaries: Common Swift — For the moth Korscheltellus lupulina, see Common Swift (moth). Common Swift In Barcelona, Spain Conservation status …   Wikipedia Swift — /swift/, n. 1. Gustavus Franklin, 1839 1903, U.S. meat packer. 2. Jonathan ( Isaac Bickerstaff ), 1667 1745, English satirist and clergyman, born in Ireland. * * * Any of about 75 species (family Apodidae) of birds found almost worldwide. The… …   Universalium swift — swiftly, adv. swiftness, n. /swift/, adj., swifter, swiftest, adv., n. adj. 1. moving or capable of moving with great speed or velocity; fleet; rapid: a swift ship. 2. coming, happening, or performed quickly or without delay: a swift decision. 3 …   Universalium Swift — Swift, n. 1. The current of a stream. [R.] Walton. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of small, long winged, insectivorous birds of the family {Micropodid[ae]}. In form and habits the swifts resemble swallows, but they are… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English Common Poorwill — Conservation status Least Concern …   Wikipedia black swift — Swift Swift, n. 1. The current of a stream. [R.] Walton. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of small, long winged, insectivorous birds of the family {Micropodid[ae]}. In form and habits the swifts resemble swallows, but they …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English hawk moth — any of numerous moths of the family Sphingidae, noted for their very swift flight and ability to hover while sipping nectar from flowers. Also called sphingid, sphinx moth, hummingbird moth. [1775 85] * * * or sphinx moth Any moth of the… …   Universalium Map-winged Swift — Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum …   Wikipedia Ghost Moth — Scientific classification Kingdom …   Wikipedia Grain moth — Grain Grain (gr[=a]n), n. [F. grain, L. granum, grain, seed, small kernel, small particle. See {Corn}, and cf. {Garner}, n., {Garnet}, {Gram} the chick pea, {Granule}, {Kernel.}] [1913 Webster] 1. A single small hard seed; a kernel, especially of …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”