Pterophoridae

45.041 Small Goldenrod Plume Hellinsia osteodactylus (Zeller, 1841)

Local

Similar species:

Forewing: 8 to 11mm

Habitats: Coastal cliffs and grasslands, wasteground and open deciduous woodland.

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

Foodplant: The larva feeds in the flower and seed-heads of Goldenrod or occasionally Common Ragwort, Sea Aster and Glabrous-headed Hawkweed. The full-fed larva either overwinters in the leaf litter or in a flower-head, which is where pupation takes place in early May.