Discover

The 'Common Swift' ''(Korscheltellus lupulina)'' is a moth of the family Hepialidae. It was previously placed in the genus ''Hepialus''. It is a common, often abundant European species.
The male has a wingspan of about 30 mm with dark brown forewings with white apical and basal streaks meeting to make a 'v' shape with another spot close to the costa. The hindwings are plain brown. The female is larger (wingspan about 40 mm) with similar patterning to the male but generally paler and less distinct. A significant proportion of individuals of both sexes are plain buff or brown with no pattern. The adults fly from May to July and are attracted to light. The species overwinters as a larva.
The larvae feed underground on the roots of a wide variety of plants (see list below) and can be an agricultural pest.
# ''The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.''

Contents

Recorded food plants

References

External links

Recorded food plants

★ ''Allium'' - Garlic

★ ''Apium'' - Celery

★ ''Brassica''

★ ''Chrysanthemum''

★ ''Dahlia''

★ ''Daucus'' - Carrot

★ ''Fragaria'' - Strawberry

★ ''Helianthus'' - Jerusalem artichoke

★ ''Humulus'' - Hop

★ ''Lactuca'' - Lettuce

★ ''Lycopersicon'' - Tomato

★ ''Medicago'' - Alfalfa

★ ''Pastinaca'' - Parsnip

★ ''Phaseolus'' - Bean

★ ''Pisum'' - Pea

★ ''Poaceae'' - Grasses

★ ''Ribes'' - Currant

★ ''Rubus''

★ ''Solanum'' - Potato

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

★ Matthew Cooper's insects page