Pyrausta purpuralis

Pyrausta purpuralis is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae

Pyrausta purpuralis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Crambidae
Genus:	Pyrausta
Species:	P. purpuralis
Binomial name
Pyrausta purpuralis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Phalaena (Pyralis) purpuralis Linnaeus, 1758 Pyrausta purpuralis chermesinalis Guenée, 1854 Phalaena inflammata Scopoli, 1763 Pyralis punicealis Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775 Botys niepoldalis Lederer, 1863 Pyrausta confundalis Zetterstedt, 1839 Pyrausta melanalis Caradja, 1916

Distribution

Is found in Europe.

Description

The species closely resembles Pyrausta aurata and Pyrausta ostrinalis. It is also known by the common name Common Purple & Gold.

The wingspan is about 20 mm. The forewings are purple, more or less mixed with dark grey; markings ochreous yellow, black-edged; an oblique fascia near base, not reaching costa; a spot in middle of disc; an irregular postmedian fascia, sometimes broken into three spots; sometimes a subterminal streak, not reaching apex. Hindwings are black, base sometimes suffused with whitish-ochreous; a discal spot and curved postmedian fascia whitish-ochreous; sometimes a whitish-ochreous subterminal streak, sometimes purple in middle. The larva is dark grey; dorsal and spiracular lines yellowish; spots black, whitish-edged.^[1]

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  Pyrausta purpuralis ♂
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  Pyrausta purpuralis ♂ △

Biology

The moth flies from May to September depending on the location. The species is active during the day.

The larvae feed on mint.