49.127 BF945

Aethes cnicana

(Westwood, 1854)

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Wingspan 14-17 mm.

Widely distributed and fairly common over most of the British Isles, the adults of this species generally have a slightly glossy appearance to the forewings.

Various species of thistle (Cirsium) form the foodplant, where the larvae devour the seeds before entering the stem where they pupate.

The adults are on the wing in June and July and are often attracted to light.