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{{Short description|Species of moth}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Philudoria potatoria m 9995.jpg
| image_caption = Male
| image2 = Lasiocampidae - Euthrix potatoria.jpg
| image2_caption = Female
| genus = Euthrix
| species = potatoria
| authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]])
| synonyms =
*''Philudoria potatoria''
}}
[[File:Euthrix potatoria caterpillar (top view) - Keila.jpg|thumb|Caterpillar]]

'''''Euthrix potatoria''''', the '''drinker''', is an [[Orange (colour)|orange-brown]] [[moth]] of the family [[Lasiocampidae]].<ref name="Biolib">{{cite web |author= |date= |title=Euthrix potatoria (Drinker) |url=https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id51118/ |website=BioLib |access-date=2025-05-27}}</ref>

The species' common and scientific names derive from the larva's supposed drinking of drops of [[dew]].<ref name="UK" />

==Name==
The scientific name ''Euthryx potatoria'' was given to this moth by [[Carl Linnaeus]] in 1758. In choosing the name ''potatoria'' 'drinker-like', he was inspired by the Dutch entomologist [[Jan Goedart|Johannes Goedaert]], who had called the animal ''dronckaerdt'' 'drunkard' "because it is very much inclined to drinking".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Goedaert |first1=Johannem |author1-link=Jan Goedart|date=1662 |title=Metamorphosis naturalis |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/159388#page/114/ |doi-access=free |language=Dutch |location=Middelburgh |publisher=Jaques Fierens |page=47 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/15828 |archive-date=2014-05-30 |access-date=2025-05-27 |via=[[Biodiversity Heritage Library]] |quote= Ick heb hem den ''dronckaerdt'' ghenaempt om dat hy feer tot het drincken genegen was. [I called him the "drunkard" because he was very fond of drinking.] |doi=10.5962/bhl.title.15828}}</ref> This remark refers to the moth's habit of repeatedly plunging its head into the water.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Beelen |first1=Hans |last2=van der Sijs |first2=Nicoline |author2-link=Nicoline_van_der_Sijs |date=2018 |title=Natneus, molenaar, hypocriet. Insectennamen uit de zeventiende eeuw. |url=https://pure.knaw.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/7000356/2018_Beelen_Sijs_Insectennamen_uit_de_17e_eeuw_Onze_taal_7_8.pdf |trans-title=Wet nose, miller, hypocrite. Insect names from the seventeenth century. |journal=[[Onze Taal]] |issue=7/8 |pages=26-27|language=Dutch |location=The Hague |publisher=Genootschap Onze Taal |access-date=2025-05-27}}</ref> The English name ''drinker (moth)'' also refers to Goedaert's analogy.

==Subspecies==
[[Subspecies]] include:<ref name="Biolib"/>
*''Euthrix potatoria mikado'' Bryk
*''Euthrix potatoria potatoria'' (Linnaeus, 1758)

==Distribution and habitat==
This species can be found in [[Europe]].<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=2013-08-29 |title=''Euthrix potatoria'' (Linnaeus 1758) - Taxon Details |url=http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=443476 |website=faunaeur.org |location=Berlin |publisher=[[Fauna Europaea]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071734/http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=443476 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |access-date=2025-05-27}}</ref> The species is fairly common in the southern half of Britain.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}} In Scotland, it is common in the west but not in the east of the country.<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=2022-11-03 |title=Scottish Moth Flight Times and Distribution Maps - East Scotland branch |url=https://eastscotland-butterflies.org.uk/quantitymaps/1640.GIF |website=eastscotland-butterflies.org.uk |location=Wareham, Dorset |publisher=[[Butterfly Conservation]] |access-date=2025-05-27 |at=Code 66.010 (1640)}}</ref> It is most frequently found in marshy places, fens and riversides but may also be seen in drier, grassy terrain.<ref name=Ford /><ref name=UK/>

==Description==

===Imago===
The imago has a wingspan of {{cvt|4.5–6.5|cm}}. The yellowish females are slightly larger than the orange-brown male but both sexes usually show the two distinctive white spots on the forewing.<ref name=UK>{{cite web |author= |date= |title=The Drinker |url=https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/euthrix-potatoria/ |website=UKmoths |publisher=Ian Kimber |access-date=2025-05-27}}</ref> Females have slightly serrated antennae, while male have deeply combed antennae.<ref name=Wild>{{cite web |author= |date=2015-03-28 |title=The Drinker moth (Euthrix potatoria) |url=http://www.wildlifeinsight.com/drinker-moth-euthrix-potatoria-bf-1640 |website=Wildlife Insight |location=Falmouth, UK |publisher=Claire & Steve Ogden |access-date=2025-05-27}}</ref>

===Larvae and pupae===
The fully grown larva is about {{cvt|6|cm}} long, hairy, striped and spotted, with distinctive tufts fore and aft. Larvae hibernate while young and resume feeding in the spring, pupating in a cocoon during the summer.<ref name=Ford>{{cite book |last=Ford |first=R.L.E. |title=The Observer's Book of Larger Moths |publisher=[[Frederick_Warne_%26_Co.|Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd.]] |date=1974 |url=https://archive.org/details/observersbookofl0000ford |location=London |pages=223 |isbn=0723215340 |access-date=2025-05-27 |url-access=registration}}</ref>

==Biology==
This nocturnal moth flies from June to August depending on the location. Males especially are attracted to light.<ref name=Ford /><ref name=UK/> The females lay their eggs in small clusters, mainly on the stem of grasses or reeds.<ref name=Wild/> The larvae feed on various grasses and reeds (''[[Alopecurus]]'', ''[[Deschampsia]]'', ''[[Dactylis]]'', ''[[Elymus (plant)|Elymus]]'' (syn. ''Elytrigia''), ''[[Carex]]'', ''[[Luzula]]'' and other [[Gramineae]]).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mazzei |first1=Paolo |last2=Morel |first2=Daniel |last3=Panfili |first3=Raniero |date= |title=''Euthrix potatoria'' (Linnaeus, 1758) |url=http://www.leps.it/indexjs.htm?SpeciesPages/EuthrPotat.htm |website=Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa |location=Rome |publisher= |access-date=2025-05-27}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="240" heights="180">
File:Euthrix potatoria Eating.jpg|Drinker moth caterpillar eating grass.
File:Euthrix potatoria caterpillar (side view) - Keila.jpg|Caterpillar
File:Euthrix potatoria caterpillar underside.jpg|Caterpillar (ventral)
File:Male Euthrix potatoria on its chrysalis.jpg|alt=
File:Euthrix potatoria 001.jpg|Mounted specimen. Male
File:Euthrix potatoria.female.jpg|Female
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Euthrix_Potatoria Lepiforum.de]
* [http://www.schmetterling-raupe.de/art/potatoria.htm Schmetterling-raupe.de]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q261060}}

[[Category:Lasiocampidae]]
[[Category:Moths described in 1758]]
[[Category:Moths of Japan]]
[[Category:Moths of Europe]]
[[Category:Moths of Asia]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]

Euthrix potatoria - Revision history

imported>Skullcinema: ref #1 expanded