Svensson's Copper Underwing

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Svensson's Copper Underwing (Amphipyra berbera) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is distributed throughout Europe.

This species has a wingspan of 47-56 mm, the female usually larger than the male. The forewings are brown, marked with pale fascia and a dark-centred pale stigma. The hindwings are bright copper-coloured. This species is very similar to the Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea) but can usually be distinguished by the pattern on the underside of the hindwings: A. pyramidea has a pale central area, contrasting strongly with darker margins; A berbera is much more uniformly coloured. A. berbera flies at night from July to September and is attracted to light and strongly to sugar.

The larva feeds on a range of trees and shrubs (see list below). The species overwinters as an egg.

1. The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

Recorded food plants

• Acer - Sycamore Maple
• Carpinus - Hornbeam
• Populus - Aspen
• Quercus - Oak
• Rhododendron
• Salix - Willow
• Sorbus - Rowan
• Syringa - Lilac
• Tilia - Lime

References

• 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

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Last updated on Thursday February 28, 2008 at 14:48:06 PST (GMT -0800)
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