Pyralidae

62.054 Twin-barred Knot-horn Homoeosoma sinuella (Fabricius, 1794)

Common

Similar species:

Forewing: 8 to 10.5mm

Habitats: Dry areas with sparse vegetation, calcareous downland, Breckland, heathland, sand-dunes, vegetated shingle, sea-cliffs and grassy slopes, embankments, wasteground and scrub.

Habits: The moth is easily disturbed in afternoon sunshine. It flies fom dusk and later comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva lives in the rootstock of a plantain. This causes the central leaves to wilt and the growth to be retarded in the following spring. It becomes full-fed sometime during the winter when it spins a silk cocoon in a cavity in the rootstock. It then rests until late April when it pupates.