About Cauchas rufimitrella (Scopoli, 1763)
Cauchas rufimitrella is a diurnal lepidopteran species belonging to Adelidae, the family of fairy long horn moths. It occurs across almost all of Europe, with the exception of Portugal, Ukraine, and the southern region of the Balkan Peninsula. This moth has a wingspan that measures between 10 and 12 millimeters. The thick, upright hairs covering its head vertex are black, with a more or less even mixing of ferruginous color on the upper portion. For antennae, males have antennae twice the length of the wing, while females have antennae 1.5 times the wing length; all antennae are black, with a whitish tip. The forewings are a shiny brassy bronze, and sometimes are partially or entirely coppery or metallic red purple. The hindwings are dark purplish fuscous. Adults fly from May to June. Caterpillars of this species feed and develop on the seeds of Cardamine pratensis, and they pupate to overwinter.
