Species Details

ABH: 63.028

BF: 1375

Family: Crambidae

Subfamily: Pyraustinae

Taxon: Ostrinia nubilalis

Authority: (Hübner, 1796)

Vernacular: European Corn-borer

Account: Local on waste ground in south-east England, formerly a rare immigrant, subsequently becoming established in the Thames Valley and around Portsmouth, and now found throughout much of southern England. Male is unmistakable; female can be confused with Sitochroa verticalis, but in that species the second line on forewing is evenly curved, not angled below half-way. Larva feeds in Britain on Mugwort, on the continent it is often a serious pest of Maize.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 29 — 37 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 8 Jun (2007) — 22 Sep (2019)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Artemisia vulgaris (Mugwort).

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Local

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/ostrinia-nubilalis/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 92

Individuals: 17

Earliest Year: 1993

Latest Year: 2025

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