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1314 Catoptria margaritella

([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Distribution Map

Using datasets:
Tullie House Museum Natural History Collections: Tullie House Museum
Records for Fife Nature Records Centre: Fife Nature Records Centre
HBRG Insects Dataset: Highland Biological Recording Group
WBRC Species data for Worcestershire collated by species group: Worcestershire Biological Records Centre
NE Scotland butterfly and moth records 1800-2010: North East Scotland Biological Records Centre
NTS Properties Species Records 1800-2013: National Trust for Scotland
ERIC North East non-sensitive species records: Environmental Records Information Centre North East
Rotherham Biological Records Centre - Non-sensitive Records from all taxonomic groups: Rotherham Biological Records Centre
Welsh Invertebrate Database (WID): Natural Resources Wales
Invertebrate Site Register - England (1738-2005).: Natural England
SER Species-based Surveys: Staffordshire Ecological Record

More images

Distribution Map

1314 Catoptria margaritella

([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Wingspan 20-23 mm.

The broad, unbroken white longitudinal mark on this species is quite distinctive.

It occurs in boggy and heathland habitats in scattered localities throughout Britain, where it is locally common.

The nocturnal adult is on the wing in July and August, and can be attracted to light.

At present the earlier stages of development are not well described. However, it has been reared from ova obtained from a captive female and in captivity the larvae initially ate the moss Campylopus flexuosus but in their later instars ate the basal parts of leaves of Eriophorum angustifolium.

Also, one early instar larva has been found in spun Campylopus flexuosus which later ate parts of leaves of Eriophorum angustifolium (R. J. Heckford).

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