About the Bird-Cherry Ermine
The bird-cherry ermine (Yponomeuta evonymella) is a species of moth in the family Yponomeutidae, the ermine moths. The wingspan of the moth ranges from 16 to 25 mm. The insect was first described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus who gave it the name Phalaena evonymella; it was later transferred to the genus Yponomeuta, becoming Yponomeuta evonymella. The moth can be found in almost the whole of Europe and the northern and eastern part of Asia.
The adult bird-cherry ermine is a distinctive moth with a wingspan of between 16 and 25 mm (0.6 and 1.0 in). The forewings are white with five longitudinal rows of small black spots. The hind wings are a smoky brown colour, with a dark edging. They are wider and shorter than the forewings. The fine, thread-like antennae reach two-thirds of the length of the wings. When the moths are resting, the wings are rolled and placed close to the body, so that the insect looks almost tubular. At the slightest disturbance, the moths skip away and skilfully drop to the ground.
This species may be found in almost the whole of Europe from the river lowlands to the deciduous forest border in alluvial... Wikipedia →