45.023 BF1495

Crescent Plume Marasmarcha lunaedactyla

(Haworth, 1811)

Wingspan 18-22 mm.

This species is easily recognisable by the moon or crescent-shaped creamy-white marking at the cleft in the brownish forewing.

It prefers dry habitats, such as downland, shingle beaches and sand-dunes, and the larvae feed on rest-harrow (Ononis).

It is distributed in the south of England and Wales in suitable habitat, and flies from dusk onwards in July.