Species Details

ABH: 35.032

BF: 809

Family: Gelechiidae

Subfamily: Apatetrinae

Taxon: Pexicopia malvella

Authority: (Hübner, [1805])

Vernacular: Hollyhock Seed Moth

Account: Nationally scarce (Nb) in grassland, saltmarshes and gardens in parts of south-eastern England, once widespread throughout England and Wales as far north as the eastern border counties of Scotland, it now appears to be contracting its range (MBGBI Vol 4 part 2) Larva feeds on seeds of Marsh-mallow and Hollyhock, over-wintering in a cocoon.

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: 18 — 20 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 26 May (2020) — 23 Jul (2020)

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

Foodplant: Alcea sp., Althaea officinalis (Marsh-mallow).

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

Status: Nationally Scarce B

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 2 — Care needed to identify, an image may be required 🤔
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/pexicopia-malvella/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 38

Individuals: 5

Earliest Year: 2001

Latest Year: 2025

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