Peach Blossom Moth

Facts about Peach Blossom Moths, "Scientific name for Peach Blossom Moth is Thyatira batis". The Peach Blossom is actually a moth, not a flower. It is sometimes called the Dogwood Thyatirid. The species is part of the Drepanidae family, which includes 660 different species. The peach blossom moth, however, is so distinctive that it is not commonly mistaken for any other related species. However, the Dogwood Thyatirid of Canada is also called a peach blossom moth, though its scientific name is Euthyatira pudens. The Euthyatira pudens was first identified in 1852.

There are several subspecies of the Peach Blossom Moth. The baseline of the species is called Thyatira batis batis. Additional subspecies include Thyatira batis formosicola, Thyatira batis mandschurica, Thyatira batis pallida and Thyatira batis rubrescens.
Other names for the species include Thyatira batis japonica, Thyatira rubrescens nepalensis, Thyatira rubrescens szechwana and Thyatira rubrescens tienmushana.

History of the Peach Blossom

Werny discovered two of the subspecies and several distinct regional populations in 1966. Thyatira batis japonica was identified in 1991 by Dubatolov. The peach blossom moth species was first identified by Carl Linnaeus, the famous Swedish botanist, in 1758.

Appearance of the Peach Blossom Moth

The peach blossom moth has a light and dark brown, pink and white pattern on the wings that resembles a peach blossom, hence the name. All adult Peach Blossom Moth have five spots on the wing that resemble flower petals. The hind wings of the Peach Blossom Moth are grey. The wing span is 1 3/8 to 1 9/16 inches (35 to 40 millimeters). The fore-wing is 19/32 to 3/4 inches (15 to 20 millimeters). Its antennae taper from the apex.

The larva of the Peach Blossom Moth is light brown with dark brown patterns. They have several humps on their back. The larva do not have hairs on them.
The peach blossom moths and others in the Drepanidae family resemble the Noctuidae family, though the Peach Blossom has a very distinctive look.

Habitat of Peach Blossom Moth

The peach blossom moth feeds on several species in the Rubus family. The Rubus family includes blackberries, dewberries, raspberries and a number of members of the rose family. All members of the Rubus family produce cane fruit, berries that mature on woody stems with prickles.
The favored habitat for this species is woodland areas and woodland / scrub mixtures. Their larva feed on bramble.

Range of Peach Blossom Moth

The Peach Blossom Moth lives across Eurasia. It is found throughout Europe and extends to Asia, common in both Japan and the United Kingdom, except for Scotland. Subspecies Thyatira batis japonica is found in Japan.
They are common in their preferred habitats, though they can be found anywhere their food plants are located.

Behavior of Peach Blossom Moth

The peach blossom moth flies at night. They are attracted to light and sources of sugar, such as the berries on which their larva feed.
When the larva are at rest, they raise both of their ends. This is common to many members of the drepanid family.
The adults contract their wings when at rest.

Lifecycle

It primarily emerges in June and July. In warmer locales, a subsequent brood emerges in August and September. In the UK, they are on the wing from May until July. The Peach Blossom Moth species spends the winter in a pupa throughout its territory.

Trivia of Peach Blossom Moth

The Camplyocheta praecox is a parasite of this moth species.