- Buff Ermine
image_width = 240px
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Arthropod a
classis =Insect a
ordo =Lepidoptera
familia =Arctiidae
genus = "Spilarctia "
species = "S. luteum"
binomial = "Spilarctia luteum"
binomial_authority =Hufnagel ,1766
synonyms ="Spilosoma lutea" "Spilosoma luteum"The Buff Ermine ("Spilarctia luteum") is amoth of the familyArctiidae . It is sometimes placed in the genus "Spilosoma ". It is found throughout thePalearctic region and theNear East .The wings of this species are buffish yellow (the males tend to be more yellow in colour than the females) and are typically marked with a diagonal row of dark spots on the forewing and a few other scattered spots on both forewings and hindwings. The extent of black markings varies considerably however, from almost spotless examples to largely black melanic forms. The
wingspan is 34-42 mm. The species flies from May to July and is attracted to light. [The flight season refers to theBritish Isles . This may vary in other parts of the range.]The
larva is pale brown and very hairy. It is polyphagous, feeding on a wide variety oftree s,shrub s andherbaceous plants (see list). This species overwinters as apupa .Recorded food plants
*"Alnus" -
Alder
*"Mentha " - Mint
*"Plantago " - Plantain
*"Quercus" -Oak
*"Rheum" -Rhubarb
*"Ribes " - Currant
*"Rubus" -Raspberry
*"Rumex " - Dock/Sorrel
*"Senecio " - Ragwort
*"Urtica" -Nettle References & notes
*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" 1984External links
* [http://www.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/noctuoidea/arctiidae/arctiinae/spilarctia/index.html#luteum Buff Ermine at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera pages]
* [http://www.hlasek.com/spilosoma_luteum_ab6369.html Buff Ermine at hlasek.com]
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