Crambidae

63.119 Marbled Fern Musotima nitidalis (Walker, 1866)

Adventive / Colonist

Similar species:

Forewing: 7 to 10mm

Habitats: First recorded in Dorset in 2009. It has since been found at a number of different habitats with ferns present.

Habits: The moth is easily disturbed in the day. It flies at night and visits the flowers of Heather and Buddleia. It comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on the underside of a frond of Bracken, Broad Buckler-fern or Hard Fern and perhaps other ferns. It pupates spun to the underside of a frond.