Scythrididae

43.010 Least Runner Scythris siccella (Zeller, 1839)

pRDB1

Similar species:

Forewing: 4 to 5mm

Habitats: Dry sandy soils

Habits: The moth flies in sunshine and rests on flowers such as Sheep's-bit and Cat's-ear.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on Wild Thyme, Buck's-Horn Plantain, Ribwort Plantain, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Kidney Vetch, Restharrow, Thrift, Cat's-ear, Wild Carrot and mouse-ears. It feeds from a long tube of silk mixed with sand, with the base attached to the foodplants stem and ending under the sandy soil. In early June the larva pupates in a silk cocoon just under the sand.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on hawkweeds, rock-roses and Small Scabious growing on sandy soils.