Ethmia pyrausta
Encyclopedia
Ethmia pyrausta is a moth
of the Ethmiidae
family. It is found in northern Scandinavia
and adjacent Russia
. The species is sometimes referred to as being "mythical", because it is so rarely encountered outside its remote native range. It is a rare migrant to the UK and also found occasionally in other areas in Northern Europe.
Larva live in a thin silky spin between the leaves and flowers of Thalictrum aquilegiifolium, Thalictrum simplex and Thalictrum flavum
. There is no evidence of breeding in the UK.
in the Grampians with a further two found nearby.
In June 2008 an adult Ethmia pyrausta moth was discovered in Easter Ross
, by Andy Scott and Margaret Currie after finding it trapped in a spider web.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Ethmiidae
Ethmiidae
Ethmiidae is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. It is sometimes included in the Elachistidae or the Oecophoridae as a subfamily Ethmiinae.-Genera:...
family. It is found in northern Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
and adjacent Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. The species is sometimes referred to as being "mythical", because it is so rarely encountered outside its remote native range. It is a rare migrant to the UK and also found occasionally in other areas in Northern Europe.
Description and ecology
It has black wings and a "hairy" orange body with a wingspan of 17-23mm.Larva live in a thin silky spin between the leaves and flowers of Thalictrum aquilegiifolium, Thalictrum simplex and Thalictrum flavum
Thalictrum flavum
Thalictrum flavum is a plant species in the genus Thalictrum. It is often called common meadow-rue or yellow meadow-rue...
. There is no evidence of breeding in the UK.
Sightings in the UK
They were first recorded in the Shin Valley in 1853. Two were found in 1996 on the top of Glas MaolGlas Maol
Glas Maol is the highest point in the Mounth hills, in the southeastern part of the Highlands of Scotland. The broad, flat summit is divided between the council area of Aberdeenshire, Angus and Perth and Kinross, though the highest point lies wholly within Angus; indeed Glas Maol is the highest...
in the Grampians with a further two found nearby.
In June 2008 an adult Ethmia pyrausta moth was discovered in Easter Ross
Easter Ross
Easter Ross is a loosely defined area in the east of Ross, Highland, Scotland.The name is used in the constituency name Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, which is the name of both a British House of Commons constituency and a Scottish Parliament constituency...
, by Andy Scott and Margaret Currie after finding it trapped in a spider web.