Scythrididae

43.005 Rock-rose Runner Scythris subcinctella (Bruand, [1851])

Notable B

Similar species:

Forewing: 4.5 to 5.5mm

Habitats: Chalk and limestone downland.

Habits: The moth flies in sunshine and comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on the surface of the lower leaves of Common Rock-rose and possibly other rock-roses. It lives under a web covering several lower shoots. From there it feeds from a silk tube extending up from the moss and leaf litter below the plant. Its surface feeding on the leaves causes them to appear whitish. Pupation takes place in early June within a silk cocoon in the leaf litter.