Diasemia reticularis

Diasemia reticularis
Adult in Commanster, Belgian Ardennes, in June
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Crambidae
Genus:	Diasemia
Species:	D. reticularis
Binomial name
Diasemia reticularis (Linnaeus, 1761)
Synonyms
Phalaena Pyralis reticularis Linnaeus, 1761 Diasema litterata (lapsus) Diasemia litterata (Scopoli, 1763) Phalaena argentalis Fabricius, 1781 Phalaena litterata Scopoli, 1763 Phalaena literata (Heinemann, 1865) Phalaena litteralis (Duponchel, 1831-1834) Pyralis literalis Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775

Diasemia reticularis is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It is typically found in the tropics, but may range into Europe as far north as the North Sea region because of its migratory nature.

The wingspan is 18–22 mm. The adults can be encountered all year if considering the species' entire range, but in subtropical and temperate regions they are rare outside the warm months.

The larvae feed mainly on Cichorieae, such as Cichorium (chicories), Hieracium (hawkweeds) and Picris (oxtongues), but also on Plantago (plantain herbs). More unusually, they have been recorded^[1] to feed on plant refuse and dry leaves.

As a result of its distinctive coloration and wing pattern the moth is occasionally referred to in France as chocolat marbré, or marbled chocolate moth.