Merrifieldia leucodactyla

Description

Merrifieldia leucodactyla is a moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is known from most of Europe, as well as North Africa and Asia Minor. Merrifieldia leucodactyla are identified by their distinctive checkered pattern on the antennas, and a finite fuzzy brown line along the entire straw-yellow forewing. The wingspan is 18–25 millimetres (0.71–0.98 in). The larvae are green with a white-edged dark green dorsal line. There is a dark green subdorsal line, and yellowish grey spiracular line. The head is yellowish green. The larvae feed on wild thymus (Thymus serphyllum), wilde lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis) and wild Majolijin (Origanum vulgare). In late July or August, the larvae start to feed, and after overwintering they pupulate in the following June or July.