Oxtongue Conch
Common NameOxtongue Conch
Scientific NameCochylis molliculana
FamilyTortricidae
SubfamilyTortricinae
Wingspan (mm)12
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorscream, ochre, dark brown
HabitatDry grasslands, waste ground, coastal areas
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia, introduced to North America
Host PlantsPicris echioides, Sonchus, Hieracium
Flight PeriodMay to September (bivoltine)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed within the flowerheads and developing seeds of various Asteraceae, such as Bristly Oxtongue, pupating in a cocoon in the soil or among plant debris.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its small size, the mottled cream and brown forewings with a prominent dark costal blotch and a dark patch near the tornus, and its association with Oxtongue and similar Asteraceae host plants.
Description
A small, cryptically patterned moth with mottled cream, ochre, and dark brown forewings, often featuring a distinct dark blotch on the costa and near the tornus.
