Morley’s Final Catalogue: Attached to sea-holly Eryngium maritimum, which is common along much of our coast. A pupa swept before 1890 at Southwold, where later about a score were bred from fair numbers of larvae and pupae (Ctw, Barrett). Suffolk is the limit of its range.

Recent Status: A scarce species in Suffolk restricted to the coast.

Life Style: A single brooded summer flying species that is restricted to the coast in Suffolk. The larvae feed gregariously by spinning together the terminal leaves of Eryngium maritimum. They pupate in spinnings on the foodplant. Eryngium campestre is also reported as a larval foodplant in Europe.

Identification: The moth is a dark brown species with prominent white scaling anterior to the dark basal streak. The thorax has a scale tuft with white scaling behind it. The Agonopterix twin spots and two beyond are commonly and prominently white marked. The species can sometimes resemble A. heracliana and A. ciliella. If found at the foodplant on the upper shore then it is most likelt correctly identified. If there is any uncertainty then genitalia dissection is required More Info

Recorded in 3 (5%) of 58 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1964. Last Recorded in 1997. Additional Stats

Exit Recorder