Erebidae

72.072 Purple Marbled Eublemma ostrina (Hübner, [1808])

Immigrant

Similar species: Beautiful Marbled Eublemma purpurina has a white to yellow base to the forewing and lacks the dark streaks along the veins. There are forms of Purple Marbled on the European mainland where the purple is not present and others where the whole moth is pale with barely visible markings.

Forewing: 8 to 9mm

Habitats: Open grassland. In Europe this includes dry mountain slopes.

Habits: It is easily disturbed in the day and flies in sunshine. It comes to light and sugar.

Foodplant: The larva has occasionally been found in Britain. It feeds on the flowers and seed-heads of Carline Thistle and other thistles. It pupates on the flowers of the foodplant.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on both Carduus and Cirsium spp. thistles, Dwarf Everlasting and Russian Globe Thistle.