Taken at Aston, Oxon., on July 2nd 2025. (© David Hastings)
(1/1000th sec at f/9)

Description

Family: Crambidae (ABH : 63.006)

Wing span: 14 - 18mm

This moth has a dark purple fore-wing, usually with a single deep-orange spot beyond the mid-wing, sometimes with additional small spots at the base. The hind-wing is dark with a broad yellow band. It is similar to the Common Purple & Gold, but is smaller.

It is found in England and Wales.

Habitats are parks, gardens, grassland and wetlands.

Adults are on the wing from mid-March to early October, in two broods.

Larvae feed on calamints, cat-mint, claries, Wild Marjoram, mints and thymes.

It flies in sunshine, and rests on leaves and flowers of the food plant.

Earliest UK sighting: 11th April ; Latest UK sighting: 3rd September

Sightings