White-edged Phycitodes Moth
Common NameWhite-edged Phycitodes Moth
Scientific NamePhycitodes albatella
FamilyPyralidae
SubfamilyPhycitinae
Wingspan (mm)21
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgrey, brown, white
HabitatOpen grassy areas, meadows, heathland, gardens, waste ground
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host Plantsthistles (Cirsium), knapweeds (Centaurea), ragwort (Senecio)
Flight PeriodMay to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed inside the flowerheads or stems of various Asteraceae plants, pupating within a cocoon. The species typically has two generations per year.
Identification TipsKey features for identification include its small size, the mottled grey-brown forewings, a prominent white costal streak, and a distinct dark discal spot.
Description
A small, slender moth with cryptically patterned greyish-brown forewings, featuring a distinct white streak along the costa and a dark discal spot.
