62.021 BF1441

Oncocera semirubella

(Scopoli, 1763)

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Wingspan 17-29 mm.

A beautifully-coloured little moth, with pink and yellow forewings, sometimes exhibiting a whitish stripe along the leading edge of the forewing.

The preferred habitats are chalk downland and limestone cliffs, and the species occurs in the southernmost counties of England.

The larval foodplants are bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus) and clover (Trifolium), the larvae forming strong silken tubes.

Flying in June and July, it can sometimes be seen in the afternoon sunshine, and later at night it comes to light.