Pterophoridae

45.026 Breckland Plume Oxyptilus distans (Zeller, 1847)

Notable B

Similar species:

Forewing: 7 to 10mm

Habitats: Breckland grassland, chalk downland, sand-dunes and vegetated shingle.

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

Foodplant: The larva feeds on Smooth Hawk's-beard or sometimes Mouse-ear-hawkweed and possibly Hawkweed Ox-tongue. After overwintering the larva feeds nocturnally on the leaves, resting along the upper midrib of a leaf during the day. It also pupates along the midrib.

The summer generation feeds on the flowers and just occasionally on the leaves. It pupates on a flower stem, looking like a dead flower.