Vagrant Piercer
Common NameVagrant Piercer
Scientific NameCochylis vagantana
FamilyTortricidae
SubfamilyCochylinae
Wingspan (mm)12.5
Primary Colorsorange, brown, black
HabitatFens, marshes, wet meadows, damp areas
Geographic RangeEurope (e.g., UK, Central Europe), parts of Asia
Host PlantsHemp-agrimony, Water Mint, Purple Loosestrife
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed internally within the flowerheads or stems of host plants. Pupation occurs in a cocoon, typically near the ground or within plant litter.
Identification TipsDistinguishable by its small size, reddish-orange ground color with characteristic dark mottling and banding, and its prominent labial palps. Found primarily in wetland habitats.
Description
A small moth with reddish-orange to ochreous forewings, featuring irregular dark brown or blackish mottling and indistinct transverse bands. It has prominent, upward-curving labial palps.
