Gelechiidae

35.061 Pale Seedhead Moth Ptocheuusa paupella (Zeller, 1847)

Local

Similar species:

Forewing: 5 to 5.5mm

Habitats: Damp woodland rides, damp meadows, river-banks, ditches, salt-marsh margins, damp coastal undercliffs.

Habits: The moth flies around its foodplants in sunshine visiting their flowers. It flies from dusk and later comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on the seeds of Common Fleabane, Golden Samphire and sometimes Common Knapweed or mints. On the European mainland it has also been recorded from Ploughman's-spikenard. Raised and discoloured florets indicate the presence of a larva. The full-fed larva overwinters in the seed-head, where it pupates in a cocoon of silk, frass and plant debris in May.