Nemophora cupriacella
Wingspan 12-16mm. This colourful day-flying moth is found in grassland meadows that contain its caterpillar foodplant of scabious (Knautia, Scabiosa or Succisa). The moth has iridescent wings of mainly coppery tones but with reds and purples. The larvae feed on the seeds of scabious and then build a caddis-like case of dead vegetation from the plant when it then feeds on the leaves.
Meadow grassland with scabious.
Adults: June-July
Larvae of this moth feed on scabious so are restricted to locations where the food plant is found. It reproduces parthenogenically and males are unknown.
Widespread but rare.
Rare. First found in 2024 at both Lea Meadows and Burbage Common.
Peter Smith
Burbage Common
20 July 2024
Female
Peter Smith
Burbage Common
20 July 2024
Female
David Nicholls
Burbage Common
20 July 2024
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Species profile
- Common names
- Coppery Long-horn
- Species group:
- Moths
- Kingdom:
- Order:
- Family:
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 3
- First record:
- 20/07/2024 (Nicholls, David)
- Last record:
- 24/07/2024 (Timms, Sue)
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David Nicholls
Burbage Common
20 July 2024
