Mniotype albostigmata (Bethune-Baker, 1891)


Mniotype albostigmata: Adult (e.l. Madeira 2013) [S] Mniotype albostigmata: Adult (e.l. Madeira 2013) [S] Mniotype albostigmata: Adult (e.l. Madeira 2013) [S] Mniotype albostigmata: Male (e.l. Madeira 2013) [S] Mniotype albostigmata: Larva (Madeira, Paul da Serra, 1250m asl, March 2013) [M] Mniotype albostigmata: Larva (Madeira, Paul da Serra, 1250m asl, March 2013) [M] Mniotype albostigmata: Larva (Madeira, Paul da Serra, 1250m asl, March 2013) [M] Mniotype albostigmata: Larva (Madeira, Paul da Serra, 1250m asl, March 2013) [M] Mniotype albostigmata: Larva (Madeira, Paul da Serra, 1250m asl, March 2013) [M] Mniotype albostigmata: Larva (Madeira, Paul da Serra, 1250m asl, March 2013) [M] Mniotype albostigmata: Larva (Madeira, Paul da Serra, 1250m asl, March 2013) [M] Mniotype albostigmata: Larva (Madeira, Paul da Serra, 1250m asl, March 2013) [M] Mniotype albostigmata: Larva (Madeira, Paul da Serra, 1250m asl, March 2013) [M] Mniotype albostigmata: Larva (Madeira, Paul da Serra, 1250m asl, March 2013) [M] Mniotype albostigmata: Larva (Madeira, Paul da Serra, 1250m asl, March 2013) [M] Mniotype albostigmata: Larva (Madeira, Paul da Serra, 1250m asl, March 2013) [M] Mniotype albostigmata: Larva (Madeira, Paul da Serra, 1250m asl, March 2013) [M] Mniotype albostigmata: Pupa (e.l. Madeira 2013) [M] Mniotype albostigmata: Pupa (e.l. Madeira 2013) [S] Mniotype albostigmata: Larval habitat with Digitalis purpurea (feeding scars!) in Madeira (Paul da Serra, March 2013) [N] Mniotype albostigmata: Larval habitat with Digitalis purpurea (feeding scars!) in Madeira (Paul da Serra, March 2013) [N] Mniotype albostigmata: Larval habitat with Digitalis purpurea in Madeira (Paul da Serra, March 2013) [N] Mniotype albostigmata: Larval habitat with Digitalis purpurea in Madeira (Paul da Serra, March 2013) [N] Mniotype albostigmata: Larval habitat above Santana (Madeira, March 2013) [N]

Host plants:
The larvae are polyphagous in the herb layer. I found them on ferns and Digitalis purpurea.

Habitat:
inhabits especially laurel and heath woodlands and neighbouring areas. I observed larvae often at/under Digitalis on the base of rocky embankments and along pathes and roads through laurel forests, because the feeding pattern was quite striking.

Life cycle:
The adults are probably on the wing year-round. But according to my own larval observations in March 2013 (about 15 more or less mature larvae, resulting pupae entered dormancy until autumn) there might be a flight minimum between late winter and late summer (February to August). This must be further examined in the field.

The later larval instars are active only during night and are very well concealed at daytime (under mosses, old leaves or loosely earth). They can be found through their feeding pattern. But many larvae seem to hide in some distance from the host plants, so that searching can be quite arduous.

Remarks:
Mniotype albostigmata is endemic to Madeira (Portugal).

Mniotype albostigmata is quite variable. So there are also individuals without striking white spots.



Mniotype adusta | Mniotype fratellum | Mniotype satura | Mniotype schumacheri | Mniotype usurpatrix 
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