Agdistis adactyla

Agdistis adactyla is a moth species in the family Pterophoridae, and the type species of genus Agdistis.^[3] It is known from most of the Palearctic realm, where it occurs from central and south-western Europe and North Africa to eastern Asia.

Agdistis adactyla
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Pterophoridae
Genus:	Agdistis
Species:	A. adactyla
Binomial name
Agdistis adactyla (Hübner, [1823]),[1] or (Hübner, [1819])[2]
Synonyms
Alucita adactyla Hübner, 1819[1] Adactyla huebneri Zeller, 1841[1]

Distribution

The species is known from Europe, North Africa and Asia, with a type locality in Austria.^[4]

Within Europe, the species occurs from southern France and northern Germany eastwards.^[5] A single record^[6][5] from the Netherlands, 250 km from its nearest known locality,^[5] has been deemed an incidental introduction.^[7] In Africa, the species is known from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Jordan.^[1] In Asia, the species has been recorded from Russia, Israel, Turkey, Armenia, Iran, Afghanistan, Kazachstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia and China.^[1]

Appearance

As with other species in Agdistis, and unlike the rest of the Pterophoridae, the wings of Agdistis adactyla are whole rather than cleft.^[5] The wingspan is 20–26 mm.^[5]

Specimens found in steppe habitats are brighter and larger than those in saline areas.^[2]

Behaviour and habitat

The larvae feed on Artemisia campestris, Artemisia scoparia, Chenopodium fruticosum, Erica cinerea and Santolina chamaecyparissus,^[1] and may be detritivorous.^[8] In Germany, larvae can be found until June.^[5]

In Central Europe, the adults are on wing in a single generation, which in Germany occurs in June and July. In southern parts of its range, the species may have multiple generations.^[5] Adults are attracted to light.^[9]