Straw-barred Pearl
Common NameStraw-barred Pearl
Scientific NamePyrausta despicata
FamilyCrambidae
SubfamilyPyraustinae
Wingspan (mm)17
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsbrown, yellow
HabitatDry grasslands, chalk downland, open grassy areas
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host PlantsPlantago lanceolata, Plantago major
Flight PeriodMay to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on plantain leaves, overwinter as larvae, and pupate in spring. The species typically has two generations per year.
Identification TipsKey features include its small size, the mottled brown and straw-yellow barred pattern on the forewings, and its preference for plantain-rich grasslands. The distinct straw-colored transverse lines are characteristic.
Description
A small moth with mottled brown forewings featuring distinctive straw-yellow or pale ochreous bars and markings, particularly a prominent bar across the middle and a subterminal line.
