Pyralidae

62.036 Blackthorn Knot-horn Acrobasis suavella (Zincken, 1818)

Local

Similar species: Acrobasis marmorea lacks the black bar across the dorsal at a third from the base of the forewing and there is a smaller area of white scales on the leading edge.

Forewing: 10 to 11.5mm

Habitats: Blackthorn scrub on downland, coastal slopes and unmanaged thickets in open country. It prefers stunted bushes.

Habits: The moth is nocturnal and comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva spins a dirty-white silk gallery along a twig below the leaves on Blackthorn. It is less often recorded feeding on Hawthorn, whitebeams, Wall Cotoneaster or other Cotoneaster spp. It has been known to feed gregariously. It pupates in a grey cocoon near the gallery.