Depressariidae

32.018 Common Brindled Brown Agonopterix heracliana (Linnaeus, 1758)

Common

Similar species: Agonopterix ciliella has five obvious bands on the hindwing cilia, while Agonopterix heracliana has three (plus occasionally some extremely faint bands in between). For a positive identification check the genitalia.

Forewing: 7 to 10mm

Habitats: Woodland rides, verges, dry grassland or wherever the foodplants are present.

Habits: The moth visits Ivy and over-ripe blackberries after dark and comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on most species of umbellifer, but most commonly Cow Parsley, Rough Chervil and Hogweed. It can be found amongst the leaflets rolled downwards to form a tube and lined with silk or occasionally in the flower-heads. It pupates in the earth or in the leaf litter.