Pterophoridae

45.024 Downland Plume Oxyptilus pilosellae (Zeller, 1841)

pRDB1

Similar species:

Forewing: 7 to 11mm

Habitats: Downland.

Habits: The moth rests on grass stems during the afternoon. It flies in the evening and later comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on Mouse-ear-hawkweed. The larva mines along the midrib of a leaf, then overwinters. In the spring it eats out the centre of the plant rosette then moves on to another plant. It pupates in a cocoon under a leaf or under the plant disguised by the hairs removed from a leaf.