Crambidae

63.013 Orange-rayed Pearl Nascia cilialis (Hübner, 1796)

Notable B

Similar species:

Forewing: 11 to 12.5mm

Habitats: Fens and water meadows.

Habits: The moth is occasionally disturbed in the day from heavy vegetation. It flies from sunset onwards and comes to light.

Foodplant: The brightly coloured larva (magenta dorsal with yellow sides), feeds in the evening on Greater Pond-sedge, Great Fen-sedge and probably other sedges. It rests on a leaf in the day, dropping on a silk thread if disturbed. The full-fed larva overwinters in a dense papery cocoon within a stem or perhaps occasionally in the leaf litter or attached to a stem. It pupates in the cocoon in May.