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Gardening with Wildlife in Mind

The Plant Press

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Mother of pearl moth - Pleuroptya ruralis - Family: Pyralidae

Mother of pearl moth - Pleuroptya ruralisMother of pearl moth - Pleuroptya ruralis
© Rob Wolton/English Nature
UK distribution - East Anglia, Midlands, North, South East, South West

These moths, seen on the wing in July and August, have shiny pale yellowish-brown forewings which are finely patterned.

They fly by day as well as by night, and come to flowers, especially thistles. The smooth, green caterpillars live inside stinging nettle leaves rolled with silk from early spring to June. Goosefoots, meadowsweet and hop are alternative larval foodplants. The moths are very common wherever nettles grow.

Food

Leaves of nettle (Urtica dioica) and hop (Humulus sp.).

Plants

Common nettle, Cotton thistle, Globe thistle, Hop, Marsh thistle, Meadow thistle, Meadowsweet, Musk thistle

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