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Cymbalophora pudica

Cymbalophora pudica


Family: Erebidae
Order: Lepidoptera
Class: Insecta
Phylum / Division: Arthropoda
Kingdom: Animalia

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Description


Cymbalophora pudica, the discrete chaperon, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Eugenius Johann Christoph Esper in 1784.

Varieties: 
  • Cymbalophora pudica ab. cohaerens Schultz, 1905
  • Cymbalophora pudica ab. flaveola Schultz, 1906
  • Cymbalophora pudica ab. flavescens Oberthür, 1911
  • Cymbalophora pudica ab. fumosa Oberthür, 1911
  • Cymbalophora pudica magnifica Rothschild, 1914


Distribution: Cymbalophora pudica can be found in southern Europe from the Iberian Peninsula to Greece and in western North Africa. These moths prefer sunny, rocky areas, grasslands, scrublands and mountain slopes at low to middle elevations.

 The wingspan of Cymbalophora pudica is typically 35–42 mm in males and 37–42 mm in females. The background color of the wings and the shape of their markings are rather variable. The external surface of the forewings usually may be milky white or pinkish, with a pattern of black triangular patches. Hindwings vary from white to pinkish with marginal spots. The blackish-haired thorax is characterized by two yellowish longitudinal stripes and by a broad, yellowish cervical spine. The antennae of the males are ciliated (hairy), while those of the females are filiform (thread like). The abdomen is reddish with black spots.

The wings may be shaded with yellowish in Cymbalophora f. flaveola Schultz, 1906, in gray in Cymbalophora f. fumosa Oberthür, 1911. Cymbalophora f. Cohaerens Schultz, 1905 shows confluent spots. Very pink forms are called rosina. The caterpillars are gray brown, hairy, and covered with black-brown warts on each segment.

Like other species of the genus Cymbalophora ("cymbal bearers"), males are capable of emitting sounds from their wings during flight.

Biology: This species is univoltine. Caterpillars can be found from May to June. Then they construct their cocoons and rest a long time in the cocoon prior to pupation. The moths are on wing from August to September, depending on the location. The larvae feed on Taraxacum officinale, Stipa species, Brachypodium phoenicoides, Festuca species, various grasses (Poaceae) and other low growing plants.

Source: Wikipedia, article Cymbalophora pudica. Content adapted from Wikipedia, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license. Accessed on 17/07/2026.





Geographic distribution


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Species photographs

Count: 2

Foto
Photography ID: 338178
  Adult

Algarrobo
Málaga
Spain
10/12/2018
Andrés G. Jacquat
Foto
Photography ID: 338094
  Adult

Algarrobo
Málaga
Spain
10/18/2018
Andrés G. Jacquat


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Species records

Count: 3



Page 1 of 1
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
164357725/09/2022SpainValenciaLa Pobla de VallbonaDaniel Pelechá Martínez
93492618/10/2018SpainMálaga"la Mayora", AlgarroboAndrés G. Jacquat
93505312/10/2018SpainMálaga"la Mayora", AlgarroboAndrés G. Jacquat
Page 1 of 1

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Recommended citation
Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Cymbalophora pudica – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 14/09/2026.