Erebidae

72.021 Water Ermine Spilosoma urticae (Esper, 1789)

Notable B

Similar species: The superficially similar female Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica is on average smaller (F 17 to 19mm), has slightly transparent rather than opaque wings and has a white rather than a yellow-orange upper abdomen. Some forms of White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda have less spots than normal (especially the females), although rarely as few as Water Ermine.

Forewing: 18 to 21mm

Habitats: Marshes, fens, marshy grassland, ditch margins, vegetated shingle and salt-marsh.

Habits: The moth comes to light later in the evening, often settling low in the herbage near the light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on Water Dock, Water Mint, Yellow Loosestrife, Flag Iris, Lousewort and many other low growing marsh plants. In captivity it will accept Dandelion and other docks. It pupates in a cocoon in the leaf litter.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on dead-nettles, Bog-bean, Common Sorrel and Common Nettle.