Ringed China-mark (Parapoynx stratiotata) | Species | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Male. Taken at Aston, Oxon., on July 12th 2025. (© David Hastings) (1/200th sec at f/11)  Female. Taken at Aston, Oxon., on July 12th 2025. (© David Hastings) (1/250th sec at f/11) DescriptionFamily: Crambidae (ABH : 63.117) Wing span: 20 - 24mm The male has a whiteish fore-wing, shaded yellowish-brown, with broken crossbands at about one-third and two-thirds, the outer one curving round a dark-ringed white spot. The female is usually larger and longer-winged, the fore-wing heavily shaded orange-brown, brown or dark brown, with the crossbands obscure but the dark-ringed white spot usually still obvious. It is common in England and Wales, but rare in Scotland. Habitats are ditches, margins of ponds and lakes, marshes, slow-flowing rivers and canals. The flight period is from May to October. Larvae feed on hornworts, pondweeds, Canadian Waterweed and other water plants. They are aquatic. The male can be readily disturbed by day from waterside vegetation. Both sexes come to light. Earliest UK sighting: 30th May ; Latest UK sighting: 2nd September Sightings
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