Tortricidae

49.172 Large Marble Phiaris schulziana (Fabricius, [1777])

Local

Similar species: Phiaris palustrana is a smaller species (6 to 7.5mm) with superficially similar markings. Both species easily lose the red to brown scales leaving areas of the black ground colour.

Forewing: M 8.5 to 12mm, F 6.5 to 10mm

Habitats: Mountain moorland, mosses and heathland.

Habits: The moth is easily disturbed in the day. It flies on sunny evenings.

Foodplant: The larva feeds from a silk tube stretching from the soil to the upper leaves of the foodplants, which are Crowberry, Heather, Trailing Azalea and probably Bearberry. Small Cranberry may be a foodplant in its Hampshire habitats. It probably pupates in the larval gallery.