62.037 BF1440

Acrobasis marmorea
Marbled Knot-horn

(Haworth, 1811)

Wingspan 18-23 mm.

In May the larvae of this pyralid spin a silken web (like a small piece of sheep's wool) on the underside of a twig of Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), Hawthorn (Crataegus) or Sorbus spp, leaving the web to feed.

Pupation takes place within the web, with adults flying from June to August. They hide in Blackthorn hedges and scrub by day and are not easy to disturb.

The moth has been recorded from England and Wales, but is commonest in the south of England, from Kent to Dorset.