Cauchas rufimitrella

Cauchas rufimitrella
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Adelidae
Genus: Cauchas
Species:
C. rufimitrella
Binomial name
Cauchas rufimitrella
Synonyms
  • Phalaena rufimitrella Scopoli, 1763
  • Adela reskovitsiella Szent-Ivany, 1945
  • Adela rufimitrella Scopoli, 1763
  • Adela uhrikmeszarosiella Szent-Ivany, 1945

Cauchas rufimitrella is a diurnal lepidopteran from the family Adelidae, the fairy long horn moths. It is found in almost all of Europe, except Portugal, Ukraine and the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula.

The wingspan of the moth ranges from 10 to 12 millimeters. The thick erect hairs on the head vertex are black, more or less ferruginous-mixed above. Antennae in male 2 [2x the length of the wing], in female 1.5, black, tip whitish. The forewings are shining brassy bronze, sometimes partly or wholly coppery or metallic red purple. The hindwings are dark purplish fuscous.

The flight time is May to June.

Caterpillars live on the seeds of Cardamine pratensis and then they pupate over the winter.