Tortricidae

49.289 Ragwort Root-borer Epiblema costipunctana (Haworth, 1811)

Common

Similar species:

Forewing: 6 to 8.5mm

Habitats: Rough grassland, woodland rides, wasteland, embankments, sand-dunes and limestone pavement.

Habits: The moth rests on the foodplant during the day. It flies in late afternoon sunshine and from dusk. It occasionally comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds in the rootstock of Common Ragwort eating the pith. When full-fed in December the larva leaves the rootstock and forms a cocoon in the leaf litter, where it overwinters before pupating in April. The second generation larvae in the south of England, feed in the stems of the plant in June and July and pupate in late July.