Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
described in 1758 by Linnaeus, who originally placed it in genus Phalaena
Explanation of Names
Antler Moth: the broad white branching vein on the forewing resembles an antler
Size
wingspan of male: 27-32 mm
wingspan of female: 35-39 mm
Identification
Adult: male forewing light grayish-brown with longitudinal black streaks and a thick white central vein with short branches resembling an antler [that gives the moth its name]; slender black wedges in subterminal area; hindwing dark brownish-gray, shading to whitish near base; fringe pale; female forewing much larger than male's, and lacks black markings
Range
currently found only in Newfoundland in North America; accidentally introduced from Europe, the first specimen was collected in St. John's, Newfoundland on 10 August 1966
widespread throughout Europe
Habitat
pastures, meadows, grassy places; adults visit grassland flowers during the day, and also fly at night and come to light
Season
adults fly from June to September
Food
larvae feed on grasses, including hairgrass (Deschampsia spp.), fescue (Festuca spp.), and matgrass (Nardus spp.)
Life Cycle
one generation per year; overwinters as an egg
Internet References
pinned adult images showing size difference between male [top] and female (Markku Savela, Finland)
live adult image plus common name reference, distribution, habitat, larval foodplant, flight season (Ian Kimber, UK Moths)
live adult image by J.C. Schou in Denmark (biopix.com)
species account (wikipedia.org)
distribution in North America and date of introduction from Europe (google books excerpt of "Biogeography and Ecology of the Island of Newfoundland" by Graham Robin South)
effect on meadow vegetation article abstract by Kjell Danell and Lars Ericson (Ecological Society of America)
synonyms and larval foodplants plus European distribution map, photos, seasonality graph, and literature references (Markku Savela, FUNET)
distribution in North America [Newfoundland only] (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)
Contributed by
Charley Eiseman on 2 August, 2009 - 9:18am
Additional contributions by
Robin McLeodLast updated 5 September, 2009 - 2:24pm
