Pyralidae

62.041 Scabious Knot-horn Eurhodope cirrigerella (Zincken, 1818)

RDB

Similar species:

Forewing: 9 to 10mm

Habitats: Chalk downland.

Habits: The moth sits under the flower-heads of the foodplants during the day, but is nocturnal and comes to light. It has recently been refound although not previously recorded since 1960 (in Hampshire).

Foodplant: The larva feeds on Field Scabious or Small Scabious. It feeds from a silk tube on the developing seeds in the flowers. There may be up to three or four tubes in each head. In late August the full-fed larva spins a tough papery cocoon in which it overwinters before pupating in late May. Some larvae overwinter twice before pupation.