The Drinker
Euthrix potatoria
This record describes Euthrix potatoria (species). Recorded family: Lasiocampidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 45-65 mm. The yellowish females are slightly larger than the orange-brown male but both sexes usually show the two distinctive white spots on the forewing. Most frequent in marshy places and riversides but also in drier grassy terrain. Flying at night, in July and August, the males especially are attracted to light. This species gets its English (and Latin) name from the habits of the caterpillar which is supposed to have a liking for drops of dew. Grasses and reeds form the bulk of the foodplants. The species is fairly common in the southern half of Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Euthrix potatoria: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthrix potatoria.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Lasiocampoidea
- Family
- Lasiocampidae (Lappet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Lasiocampinae
- Tribe
- Selenepherini
- Genus
- Euthrix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Most frequent in marshy places and riversides but also in drier grassy terrain.
Seasonal Activity
Flying at night, in July and August, the males especially are attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
This species gets its English (and Latin) name from the habits of the caterpillar which is supposed to have a liking for drops of dew. Grasses and reeds form the bulk of the foodplants.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The species is fairly common in the southern half of Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euthrix potatoria. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of The Drinker (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About The Drinker
What is The Drinker?
The Drinker (Euthrix potatoria) is a species in the family Lasiocampidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is The Drinker found?
Habitat: Most frequent in marshy places and riversides but also in drier grassy terrain.
When is The Drinker active?
The Drinker: seasonal activity - Flying at night, in July and August, the males especially are attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a The Drinker?
This species gets its English (and Latin) name from the habits of the caterpillar which is supposed to have a liking for drops of dew. Grasses and reeds form the bulk of the foodplants.