Pleurota aristella
Common NamePleurota aristella
Scientific NamePleurota aristella
FamilyOecophoridae
SubfamilyPleurotinae
Wingspan (mm)20
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsbrown, white, grey
HabitatDry grasslands, heathlands, rocky slopes, open woodlands
Geographic RangeSouthern and Central Europe, North Africa, parts of Asia Minor
Host PlantsGenista, Cytisus, various Fabaceae
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on low-growing plants, particularly broom species (Genista, Cytisus), often concealed in silken tubes or webs. Pupation occurs in a cocoon, typically in the soil or among plant debris.
Identification TipsDistinguished by the clear, sharply defined white longitudinal stripe on the pale brown forewing. The long, upward-curving, hairy labial palps are also characteristic of the genus Pleurota.
Description
A slender micro-moth with pale ochreous-brown forewings, prominently marked with a sharp, white longitudinal stripe running from the base to near the apex. The head and thorax are also pale, and the labial palps are long and hairy.
