Tortricidae

49.265 Hoary Tortrix Eucosma cana (Haworth, 1811)

Common

Similar species: Eucosma hohenwartiana lacks the longitudinal bars across the pale dorsal area of the forewings. Eucosma fulvana is paler and lacks the longitudinal bars across the pale dorsal area of the forewings.

Forewing: 7 to 11mm

Habitats: Calcareous grassland, meadows, woodland clearings, sea-cliffs, coastal slopes, wasteground and vegetated shingle.

Habits: The moth is easily disturbed from amongst its foodplants. It flies from late afternoon until after dusk. It comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva lives in the flower and seed-head of Creeping Thistle, Carduus ssp., Common Knapweed, and probably other thistles. In September the full-fed larva constructs a cocoon in the leaf litter, where it overwinters until it pupates in May.