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Identity

Callimorpha dominula is an arctiine moth in Erebidae. The older genus name Panaxia appears in the literature on its Cothill population. [1][4]

Morphology and identification

Cream-white and yellow spots interrupt the dark forewings, which can show a metallic green sheen. The hindwings are red with black markings. Pattern variants differ in the extent and arrangement of the pale forewing spots and black hindwing areas. [1][2]

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs across much of Europe. In Britain it is concentrated in southern and southwestern England and parts of Wales, occupying fens, marshes and riverbanks; coastal rocky habitats also support populations. [1][2]

Life cycle

The caterpillar overwinters. Outdoor captive larvae have been observed feeding during mild winter periods. At Cothill Fen, mature larvae leave their host plants and pupate beneath ground litter in late May. [3][4]

Feeding and host plants

Comfrey is an important larval food plant in British wetland populations. The Cothill account also records hemp-agrimony and meadowsweet, while captive larvae have accepted bramble, nettle and sallow. Adults have developed mouthparts and take nectar. [2][4][3]

Distinctive biology

At Cothill Fen, Oxfordshire, Jones measured temperatures in the pupal habitat from 1995 to 1999. The litter layer buffered cold conditions, while temperatures still fluctuated. Adult frequencies of the medionigra wing-pattern form did not follow the changes predicted from constant-temperature laboratory experiments: the warmest year did not have the highest frequency, and the most stable year produced no corresponding increase. [4]