Plantain moth
Common NamePlantain moth
Scientific NamePyrausta despicata
FamilyCrambidae
SubfamilyPyraustinae
Wingspan (mm)18
Primary Colorsyellowish-brown, reddish-pink, dark grey
HabitatDry grasslands, heathlands, open fields, gardens, waste ground
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, temperate Asia
Host PlantsPlantago lanceolata, Plantago major
Flight PeriodMay to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on plantain leaves, pupating in a silken cocoon near the ground. It typically has two generations per year.
Identification TipsKey features include the yellowish-brown forewings with subtle darker speckling and the prominent reddish-pink band on the hindwings, which is often visible even when the moth is at rest.
Description
A small moth with yellowish-brown forewings mottled with faint darker scales, and a distinctive reddish-pink band across the hindwings, bordered by a dark fringe.
