About Pempelia palumbella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Pempelia palumbella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) is a moth species that belongs to the family Pyralidae. This species is found in Europe. Its wingspan measures between 25 and 27 millimetres, which is equivalent to 0.98 to 1.06 inches. The forewings are violet-brown, with a more or less even sprinkling of whitish and dark fuscous scales. There is whitish suffusion on the forewings towards the costa between the two lines, and also on the apex. The first and second lines on the forewings are pale reddish-brown, with black edging along their inner side. The first line is angulated, and is preceded by a small spot of blackish raised scales on the fold. The second line is indented twice. There is also a rather oblique black discal mark on the forewings. The hindwings are light fuscous, and become darker toward their terminal end. Fully described larvae are dark greenish-grey with a reddish tinge. The dorsal line is brownish with pale edging, the double subdorsal line is a lighter brownish shade, and the head is reddish brown. Larvae live in tubular webs on host plants Erica and Polygala. Adult moths fly in a single generation each year, from May through September. The caterpillars feed on calluna, species in the family Ericaceae, thyme, and species in the family Polygalaceae.
