Tineidae

12.048 Common Fern Moth Psychoides filicivora (Meyrick, 1937)

Local

Similar species: Simacauda dicommatias which has naturalised in Cornwall.

Forewing: 3.5 to 5.5mm

Habitats: Houses, gardens and damp woodland.

Habits: The moth flies around the foodplant in warm weather during the day. It is occasionally attracted to light.

Foodplant: The larva mines a frond or the midrib of Hart's-tongue Fern, other spleenworts, Male Fern, Soft Shield Fern or other ferns. Then on the underside of a fern frond it feeds on the sori within the sporangia. It later forms an untidy case using the sporangia to cover itself. It pupates in a strong white cocoon under a mass of sporangia.