Pyralidae

62.058 Spotted Knot-horn Phycitodes binaevella (Hübner, [1813])

Common

Similar species: Other British Phycitodes spp. which are smaller and have smaller dots.

Forewing: 10 to 12.5mm

Habitats: Coastal sites, wasteground, calcareous downland, open woodland, Breckland and sites on sandy soils

Habits: The moth flies from dusk onwards when it visits the flowers of thistles and ragwort and later comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on Spear Thistle or Plymouth Thistle. It feeds on the developing seeds in the flower-head where it hollows out a large cavity. The full-fed larva overwinters in a dull brown cocoon in the earth. It pupates in the cocoon in May.