Gelechiidae

35.077 Persicaria Borer Monochroa horningi (Staudinger, 1883)

Notable A

Similar species:

Forewing: 4.5 to 5.5mm

Habitats: Damp arable field margins, drier parts of marshes, wasteground, margins of lakes, ponds and streams.

Habits: The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: In autumn the larva mines a stem of Pale Persicaria and possibly other persicarias. The full-fed larva spins a cocoon at the lower end of the mine in which it overwinters. In the spring it leaves the mine and probably pupates in the leaf litter. On the European mainland it is recorded feeding on Water Pepper, Common Knotgrass and possibly docks.