About Spilosoma urticae Esper, 1789
Spilosoma urticae, commonly called the water ermine, is a moth species belonging to the family Erebidae. It occurs in the temperate belt of the Palearctic realm, similar to the related species Spilosoma lubricipedum, but S. urticae prefers drier biotopes. Because of this habitat preference, it is more abundant in steppes, and it is the only Spilosoma species found in Central Asia. The species has a wingspan of 38 to 46 mm, and the forewings measure 18 to 22 mm in length. Its hindwings never have black dots. Male individuals have very short antennae branches: these branches are equal in length, and are no more than twice the diameter of the antenna stem. This feature is the most reliable characteristic to distinguish S. urticae from Spilosoma lubricipeda. Adult moths fly from April to October, with flight times varying by location. The larvae of this moth feed on Rumex hydrolapathum, Mentha aquatica, Iris pseudacorus, Lysimachia vulgaris, Jacobaea vulgaris, and Pedicularis sylvatica.
