Acanthopsyche atra

Acanthopsyche atra
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Psychidae
Genus:	Acanthopsyche
Species:	A. atra
Binomial name
Acanthopsyche atra (Linnaeus, 1767)[1]
Synonyms
Phalaena (Bombyx) atra Linnaeus, 1767 Psyche stigmatella Zetterstedt, 1840 Psyche opacella Herrich-Schäffer, [1846] Psyche fenella Newman, 1850 Psyche hyalinella Stephens, 1850 Oiketicus nigricans Westwood, 1854 Psyche hispidella Heylaerts, 1884 Bombyx hieracii Thunberg, 1792 Chalia furva Kirby, 1892 Acanthopsyche hirsutella Tutt, 1900

Acanthopsyche atra, the Dusky Sweep, is a moth of the Psychidae family. It is found in most of Europe, except Portugal, most of the Balkan Peninsula, Ireland and Ukraine. The habitat consists of heathland and moorland.^[2]

The wingspan is 16–22 mm for males. Female are wingless. Adults are on wing in May and June.

The larvae feed on Gramineae species and Calluna vulgaris. They live in a silk case of about 20 mm long which is covered with grass-stems and heather fragments. The larval stage often lasts two years. The case is fixed on a wall, rock or fence prior to pupation.^[3]

References

1. Fauna Europaea
2. Hants Moths
3. UKmoths