Pterophoridae

45.019 Saxifrage Plume Stenoptilia millieridactyla (Bruand 1861)

Notable B

Similar species:

Forewing: 8 to 10mm

Habitats: Limestone pavement, calcareous slopes and garden rockeries.

Habits: The moth is easily disturbed during the day. It flies from dusk and comes to light.

Foodplant: The small larva mines the leaves of Mossy Saxifrage and then overwinters in the stem. In the spring it continues mining the leaves, but feeds externally on the flowers and seeds in the last instar. It pupates attached to the plant, often on the dead flower-head.