Spinach (moth): Difference between revisions

Spinach
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Geometridae
Genus:	Eulithis
Species:	E. mellinata
Binomial name
	Eulithis mellinata; (Fabricius, 1787)
Synonyms
	Grandaritis pyraliata;

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The spinach (Eulithis mellinata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1787. It is found throughout much of the Palearctic region and the Near East though its distribution is rather local due to its specialized larval food plant. In the British Isles it is fairly common in England and Wales but much rarer in Scotland and Ireland.

Its wingspan is 33–38 mm. The forewings are yellow marked with brown fascia and apical streak with brown chequering on the fringe. The hindwings are plain cream but are rarely seen as the species usually rests in a very distinctive and characteristic way with the forewings held out at 90° to the body with the hindwings hidden behind them. Some other members of the genus such as the northern spinach and barred straw rest in a similar way. The species flies at night from June to August ^[1] and is attracted to light.

The larva is green with white lines and feeds exclusively on currants. The species overwinters as an egg.

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

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

External links

This Cidariini moth related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|Species of moth}}
-{{Taxobox
+{{about|the insect, ''Eulithis Mellinata''|other uses|Spinach (disambiguation)}}
-| name = The Spinach
+{{Speciesbox
+| name = Spinach
 | image = Eulithis.mellinata.7206.jpg
+| taxon = Eulithis mellinata
-| image_width = 240px
+| authority = ([[Johan Christian Fabricius|Fabricius]], 1787)
-| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
+| synonyms = *''Grandaritis pyraliata''
-| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a
-| classis = [[Insect]]a
-| ordo = [[Lepidoptera]]
-| familia = [[Geometridae]]
-| genus = ''[[Eulithis]]''
-| species = '''''E. mellinata'''''
-| binomial = ''Eulithis mellinata''
-| binomial_authority = [[Johan Christian Fabricius|Fabricius]], 1787
-| synonyms =
-*''Grandaritis pyraliata''
 }}
-The '''Spinach''' (''Eulithis mellinata'') is a [[moth]] of the family [[Geometridae]]. It is found throughout the [[Palearctic]] region and the [[Near East]] though its distribution is rather local due to its specialized [[larva]]l food plant. In the [[British Isles]] it is fairly common in [[England]] and [[Wales]] but much rarer in [[Scotland]] and [[Ireland]].
+The '''spinach''' (''Eulithis mellinata'') is a [[moth]] of the family [[Geometridae]]. The species was [[Species description|first described]] by [[Johan Christian Fabricius]] in 1787. It is found throughout much of the [[Palearctic]] region and the [[Near East]] though its distribution is rather local due to its specialized [[larva]]l food plant. In the British Isles it is fairly common in England and Wales but much rarer in Scotland and Ireland.
+[[File:Eulithis mellinata SLU.JPG|thumb|230px|left|Museum specimen]]
-Its [[wingspan]] is 33–38&nbsp;mm. The forewings are yellow marked with brown [[fascia]] and apical streak with brown chequering on the fringe. The hindwings are plain cream but are rarely seen as the species usually rests in a very distinctive and characteristic way with the forewings held out at 90° to the body with the hindwings hidden behind them. Some other members of the genus such as [[Northern Spinach]] and [[Barred Straw]] rest in a similar way. The species flies at night from June to August {{ref|flight_season}} and is attracted to light.
+Its [[wingspan]] is 33–38&nbsp;mm. The forewings are yellow marked with brown [[fascia]] and apical streak with brown chequering on the fringe. The hindwings are plain cream but are rarely seen as the species usually rests in a very distinctive and characteristic way with the forewings held out at 90° to the body with the hindwings hidden behind them. Some other members of the genus such as the [[Eulithis populata|northern spinach]] and [[barred straw]] rest in a similar way. The species flies at night from June to August {{ref|flight_season}} and is attracted to light.
-The [[larva]] is green with white lines and feeds exclusively on [[Ribes|currant]]. The species overwinters as an [[egg (biology)|egg]].
+The [[larva]] is green with white lines and feeds exclusively on [[Ribes|currants]]. The species overwinters as an [[egg (biology)|egg]].
-#{{Note|flight_season}}''The flight season refers to the [[British Isles]]. This may vary in other parts of the range.''
+#{{Note|flight_season}}''The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.''
 == 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
+==External links==
-* '''Chinery, Michael''' ''Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe'' 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
+{{commons category|Eulithis mellinata}}
+*[http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/eulithis-mellinata/ The Spinach at ''UKMoths'']
+*[http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Eulithis_Mellinata ''Lepiforum e.V.'']
+{{Taxonbar|from=Q1421117}}
-* '''Skinner, Bernard''' ''Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles'' 1984
-==External links==
-* http://nitro.biosci.arizona.edu/zeeb/butterflies/figs/moths/Geometridae/Larentiinae/E_luteolata.jpg
 [[Category:Cidariini]]
-[[Category:Animals described in 1787]]
+[[Category:Moths described in 1787]]
 [[Category:Moths of Europe]]
-[[Category:Insects of Germany]]
+[[Category:Taxa named by Johan Christian Fabricius]]
-[[Category:Insects of Europe]]
-[[Category:Insects of Sweden]]
-[[Category:Insects of Romania]]
-[[Category:Insects of Poland]]
-[[Category:Insects of Latvia]]
-[[Category:Insects of Europe]]
-[[Category:Insects of Europe]]
-[[Category:Insects of Europe]]
-[[Category:Insects of Hungary]]
-[[Category:Insects of Italy]]