Praydidae

22.005 Citrus Flower Moth Prays citri (Millière, 1873)

Adventive

Similar species: This species has a dark diagonal broken bar running from a blotch at three quarters along the leading edge to the centre of the trailing edge. Prays oleae has a dark triangular suffusion near the centre of the leading edge of the forewing. The larva of both species have been recorded feeding on olive, but the larvae have different head markings.

Forewing: 5 to 6mm

Habitats: Accidentally imported into garden centres and gardens.

Habits: A Meditteranean species. It is continuously brooded in the correct conditions.

Foodplant: The larva mines a leaf of citrus or olive. It then feeds in a spun shoot.