Yponomeuta cagnagella, the spindle ermine, is a moth from the family Yponomeutidae, the ermine moths. The wingspan of the moth ranges from 19 to 26 millimetres. The head is white. Forewings are white; four longitudinal series of few black dots, first not reaching middle, second beginning near before middle, lowest including 4-7 dots; some additional black dots before termen; cilia white. Hindwings are dark grey. The larva is pale greyish-yellowish; spots black; head black.[2]

Spindle ermine
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Yponomeutidae
Genus: Yponomeuta
Species:
Y. cagnagella
Binomial name
Yponomeuta cagnagella
(Hübner, 1813)[1]
Synonyms
  • Tinea cagnagella Hubner, 1813
  • Nygmia cognatella Hubner, 1825
  • Yponomeuta cagnagellus

Flight time ranges from the end of June to October. The moth is attracted to light.

Host plant edit

The host plant of this moth is European spindle. Other ermine moths that use this plant as their host are Yponomeuta plumbella and Yponomeuta irrorella.

References edit

  1. ^ Fauna Europaea
  2. ^ Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description