Eulithis prunata

Distinguished from similar Eulithis species by the combination of: strongly point-shaped bulge in the midfield of the forewing; prominent dark crescent-shaped spot below the apex; and black arrow stains on the distal white wavy line contrasted with white. The three bright wavy lines on grey hindwings also aid identification. The deeply-lobed chocolate-brown cross band outlined in white is a key feature.

Medium-sized moth with wingspan of 28–37 mm (typically 30–35 mm). Forewings dark brown with grey-white or brown-white cross bands bordering a strongly bulging midfield. Distal white wavy line bears several black arrow-shaped markings contrasted with white. Large dark crescent-shaped spot located below apex. Hindwings grey with three bright wavy lines visible.

Fen habitats; gardens and cultivated areas where larval host plants (Ribes species) occur. Specimens have been collected from fen woodland in Oxfordshire, UK.

Palearctic realm. Widely distributed across northern Europe and Scandinavia; common across most of southern Britain. Scattered records from Eastern Europe, across Russia to Mongolia, China and Japan. Occasional accidental importation to Canada and the United States. Subspecies E. p. leucoptera occurs in Kamchatka, Amur region, Sakhalin, Korea, and Japan; E. p. teberdensis in Caucasus, Georgia, and Armenia.

Adults on wing primarily July and August. First instar larvae hatch following April after embryonic diapause; larvae feed through spring and pupate around June.

Larvae feed on leaves of currant and gooseberry bushes (genus Ribes), including Alpine Currant (Ribes alpinum), Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum), Redcurrant (Ribes rubrum), Gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa), and Golden Currant (Ribes aureum). Ornamental Ribes species may also serve as hosts.

• Ribes nigrum - larval food plantblackcurrant
• Ribes rubrum - larval food plantredcurrant
• Ribes uva-crispa - larval food plantgooseberry
• Ribes alpinum - larval food plantAlpine Currant
• Ribes aureum - larval food plantGolden Currant

Eggs laid on bark of food plant; embryonic development is delayed (embryonic diapause) through winter. First instar larvae hatch the following April. Larvae feed on leaves, then pupate around June in a web spun between leaves. Adults emerge July–August.

Adults come to light. Eggs are laid on bark rather than leaves. Larvae pupate within a web spun between leaves of the host plant.

Larvae may be considered minor pests in gardens and cultivated areas where currants and gooseberries are grown. The species has been subject to genome sequencing research (263.1 Mb genome, 16,023 protein-coding genes annotated).

• Other Eulithis speciesSimilar wing patterns and size; distinguished by specific forewing markings including the point-shaped bulge in midfield and the crescent-shaped spot below apex

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• The genome sequence of the Phoenix, Eulithis prunata (Linnaeus, 1758).