Crambidae : Pyraustinae
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Photo © Paul Kitchener,  Ipswich, 19 June 2017

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Ostrinia nubilalis

(Hübner, 1796)1375 / 63.028

Morley’s Final Catalogue: A specimen of the pale form of this very rare species was taken at Felixstow during the summer of 1903 by Mr. A. E. Gibbs of St. Albans (Barrett, EMM. 1904, 89). Probably merely immigrant.

Recent Status: More frequent than in Morley’s time and likely to be a resident or temporary resident

Life Style: Ostrinia nubilalis is a single brooded summer flying species with a long flight period that is boosted later in the year by immigrant individuals. The European Corn-borer larvae feed mainly on Artemisia vulgaris in Britain but has been recorded on Hop and Maize.
They feed inside a stem and in the case of maize also on the seeds. They hibernate in location and pupate in spring.

Identification: This is a strongly sexually dimorphic species. Whilst the male is fairly distinct, females can be mis-identified as other Pyraustinae species. Females have light yellow, cream or ochre wings with dark marked pre median and post median lines. The post median line is not as strongly dentate as it appears to be in the males. There are also dark stigmata and sometimes a sub-terminal line. Some darker shading can sometimes appear on the female forewing.

There is debate about the similarity of Ostrinia nubilalis to a sympatric Ostrinia scapulalis More Info . It has been shown that moths identified as either species can feed on both maize and wormwood. Also the larvae of O. nubilalis feeding on maize will move to the lower parts of the plant to overwinter before those of O. scapulalis do so and thus avoid death once the maize is harvested. It is not clear therefore as to whether or not there are two species or if sympatric speciation could be occurring as a consequence of the feeding behaviour of the larvae. Lepiforum treats them as forms of the same species, that being O. nubilalis More Info This is where British species sit taxonomically. There is little if any difference in DNA or genitalia.

Recorded in 47 (81%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1903.
Last Recorded in 2024.
Additional Stats

Psammotis pulveralis | Paratalanta pandalis >

Determination
List Species Records   [Show All Latest]
Latest 5 Records
Date#VC10k Area
07/10/2024125TM34 - Hollesley/Rendlesham Forest
22/09/2024+25TM34 - Hollesley/Rendlesham Forest
20/09/2024125TM13 - Brantham/Holbrook
15/09/2024126TL97 - Hopton/Ixworth
15/09/2024125TM04 - Hadleigh
Show Details | 1990 to 2024 | 2000 to 2024 | Graph Key
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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Wingspan: 26-30 mm.
Flight: June to October
Foodplant:   Mugwort.
Nat Status: Local / Immigrant
Verification Grade:  Adult: 1
 Immature Adult   [Show Flight Times]
     
Underlying maps using Digital Map Data © Norfolk Online Lepidoptera Archive - NOLA™ - Suffolk 2025. © James Wheeler - Norfolk Moths 2007 - 2025. Data © NOLA™ - Suffolk 2025
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