Mint Moth
Common NameMint Moth
Scientific NamePyrausta aurata
FamilyCrambidae
SubfamilyPyraustinae
Wingspan (mm)18
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsreddish-brown, orange, yellow
HabitatGardens, meadows, waste ground, woodland edges, areas with mint plants
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia (e.g., Turkey, Caucasus), introduced to North America
Host PlantsMentha spp. (mint), Origanum vulgare (marjoram), Thymus spp. (thyme), Melissa officinalis (lemon balm)
Flight PeriodMay to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are greenish with a dark head, feeding on the underside of host plant leaves. They pupate in a silken cocoon among the leaves or in the soil.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its small size, bright golden-orange head, and the striking reddish-brown wings with irregular golden-yellow spots and bands, particularly the two prominent transverse bands on the forewings.
Description
A small, brightly colored moth with a golden-orange head and thorax. Its forewings are predominantly reddish-brown, adorned with prominent, irregular golden-yellow spots and two distinct golden-yellow transverse bands.
