Miller (moth)

The miller (Acronicta leporina) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found throughout Europe apart from the far south-east.The range extends from the South of Spain, Central Italy and Bulgaria to Scotland and Central Scandinavia, crossing the Arctic circle in Finland and Norway. Outside Europe it is only known in North Africa. In the Eastern Palearctic and the Nearctic ecozone it is replaced by Acronicta vulpina, (Grote, 1883) formerly known as Acronicta leporina subspecies vulpina.

Caterpillar
This article is about the miller moth of Europe. The name "miller" is also used for similar moths elsewhere, such as the genus Agrotis (e.g. Agrotis laysanensis). For the miller moth found in the western United States, see Army cutworm.

The miller
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Acronicta
Species:
A. leporina
Binomial name
Acronicta leporina

Description

This is a variable but always distinctive species, the forewings ranging from almost white to dark grey (pale grey being the most common colour form) with characteristic crescent-shaped black markings. The hindwings are white. The wingspan is 1.5-1.69 in (38–43 mm). Adults of this species fly at night from June to August and will come to light and sugar but are not especially strongly attracted.

Technical description and variation
For a key to the terms used, see Glossary of entomology terms.

Forewing white, the lines indicated by black spots. Larva pale green, or yellowish, with long silky white hairs, which are also sometimes yellowish, curling over the sides; — ab. bradyporina Tr. (3a), occurring in N. Europe and the commoner form in Britain, has the wings dusted with grey, and the markings more developed. — ab. semivirga Tutt has the outer margin of forewing broadly grey. — In leporella Stgr. (= cineracea Graes.) (3 a) confined to Eastern Asia and Japan, the forewing is greyish white with indistinct markings. — ab. rosea Tutt (= la rose Engr.) is said to have the forewing and the segmental incisions of abdomen of a bright rose colour. [1]

Biology

The larva is green, covered in long white or yellow hairs. It feeds on a variety of trees (see list below), often feeding on bark and soft wood. This species overwinters as a pupa, sometimes spending two winters in this form.

Different larva instars and pupa taken from Jacob Hübner's Geschichte europäischer Schmetterlinge

Recorded food plants

Notes
  1. ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.
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References
  1. Warren. W. in Seitz, A. Ed., 1914 Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde, Verlag Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart Band 3: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen eulenartigen Nachtfalter, 1914 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • 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 1984
  • The Miller on UKmoths
  • Beccaloni, G.; Scoble, M.; Kitching, I.; Simonsen, T.; Robinson, G.; Pitkin, B.; Hine, A.; Lyal, C., eds. (2003). "Acronicta leporina". The Global Lepidoptera Names Index. Natural History Museum.
  • Fauna Europaea
  • Lepiforum.de
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