Crambidae

63.035 Mountain Pearl Udea uliginosalis (Stephens, 1834)

Notable B

Similar species:

Forewing: 11 to 14mm

Habitats: Grassy or boggy areas and sheltered grassy stream margins on mountain slopes.

Habits: The moth is easily disturbed from vegetation during the day when it usually flies up the mountainside. It flies at night and comes to light.

Foodplant: The early stages have not been recorded in Britain and Ireland apart from a small larva that was found in a silk tube on the ground and reared in captivity. It is now thought that it overwinters as a small larva and feeds up in the spring on a variety of low growing plants and grasses before pupating in a sparse cocoon.