The wingspan is 24–28 millimetres (0.94–1.10 in)
The head and thorax are deep ochreous-yellow, black-spotted. Forewings are yellowish-white, markings blackish; base blackish, with two ochreous-yellow marks; a suffused costal streak; lines thick, first irregular, second tending to form spots, curved, narrowest below middle; small orbicular and large round discal spots, touching costal streak; a terminal fascia tending to form spots, edge parallel to second line. Hind wings with colour, second line, and terminal fascia as in forewings; a blackish discal spot. The larva is whitish; dorsal line dull green, white-edged; head and plate of 2 black.[2] The moth flies from June to July depending on the location and is easily disturbed by day. It flies from dusk onward and comes to light.[3][4]
Larvae can be found in August and September feeding in a rolled or spun leaf. They overwinter in a transparent cocoon hidden under loose bark, or in a hollow stem of Umbelliferae such as hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium).[3][4]
Pupa
Pupation takes place in the spring in the overwintered site.[4]
Gallery
larva
pupa
pupa
imago
Distribution
The moth has been recorded in Asia, Europe and North America. In both Canada and the United States of America it is an exotic.[6][7]
Taxonomy
Carl Linnaeus placed the small magpie, along with ″the rest of the moths″, in the now obsolete genus Phalaena. It has since been moved to the Eurrhypara and Pyralis before ending up in its present genus Anania, which refers to without pain. Anania was raised by the German entomologist Jacob Hübner in 1823 and refers to ″his pleasure in the beauty of″ Anania funebris. The specific name hortulata refers to hortus – a garden, referring to the habitat.[8]
^Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description
^ abcdGoater, Barry (1986). British Pyralid Moths. A Guide to their Idendification. Colchester: Harley Books. p. 75. ISBN0-946589-08-9.
^Sterling, Phil; Parsons, Mark; Lewington, Richard (2012). Field Guide to the Micro moths of Great Britain and Ireland. Gillingham, Dorset: British Wildlife Publishing. p. 381.