About Hypsopygia glaucinalis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Hypsopygia glaucinalis is a moth species belonging to the Pyralidae family. Its taxonomic classification is complicated: it is sometimes placed in the genus Orthopygia, either alone or alongside a small number of other species. This species is the type species of Orthopygia, so if O. glaucinalis is moved to the genus Ocrasa, as it is treated in this treatment, the genus name "Orthopygia" becomes invalid. To further complicate taxonomy, Ocrasa is now most often treated as either a synonym or a subgenus of Hypsopygia. This moth is native to the European continent. It has a wingspan of 23 to 31 mm. Its forewings are brownish-grey, with a purple tint along the costa; the median section of the costa is dotted with yellow. The forewing lines are pale ochreous, nearly straight, and appear stronger and more yellow along the costa. Its hindwings are grey, with two fine, closely spaced whitish lines: the first line is twice sub-angulated, and the second line is curved. The larva is blackish-green, with a lighter color along its sides; its head and the dorsal plate of the second segment are a lighter shade. Larvae live in silken galleries among decaying leaves and birch twigs. Adult moths fly from June to October in the temperate portions of this species' range, such as Belgium and the Netherlands. Caterpillars feed on decaying plants and dry leaves. They have been found in several fairly unusual locations, including Buteo raptor nests, straw, thatching, and discarded paper.
