Mecyna asinalis
Mecyna asinalis, sometimes known as the madder pearl, is a species of moth of the family Crambidae found in Europe.
Description
The wingspan is. The forewings are grey; lines darker, first indistinct, sometimes followed by a dark fuscous triangular subdorsal spot, second sometimes blackish -dotted, curved, with a deep abrupt sinuation inwards below middle, often preceded by a brownish or dark fuscous trapezoidal subdorsal spot; very large orbicular, and reniform discal spot somewhat paler, latter preceded and followed by faint brownish sometimes dark-edged spots. Hind are wings grey; a darker postmedian line. The larva is yellow-brownish; dorsal line reddish-brown; subdorsal broader, brown; lateral brown; spots black.The moth flies from May to October in two generations per year.
[Image:Buckler W The larvæ of the British butterflies and moths PlateCLIII.jpg|thumb|140px|left|Figs 7, 7a larva after final moult]
The larvae graze the leaves of the foodplant eating the parenchyma and leaving a ″window″ in the upper epidermis. Foodplants include taupata, crosswort and wild madder.