Pyralidae

62.046 Royal Knot-horn Eccopisa effractella Zeller, 1848

Immigrant

Similar species:

Forewing: 7.5 to 8.5mm

Habitats:

Habits: The moth is nocturnal and comes to light.

Foodplant: The early stages have not been recorded in Britain and Ireland and accounts from abroad are varied.

On the European mainland the larva are recorded as feeding on apples, pears, Hazel and plums.

In Germany it has been found feeding within the heads of Reedmace.

In Belgium it has also been recorded feeding wholly in the webs of several species of Ermine moths Yponomeuta spp.

In Bulgaria where they are found in apple, quince, plum and peach orchards, the larva feeds on the wood under the bark of the stem and branches and sometimes on the seeds in the fruits of mainly quince and occasionally apple. There are two or three generations per year and the larva overwinters under the bark of the stems.