Species Details

ABH: 63.006

BF: 1361

Family: Crambidae

Subfamily: Pyraustinae

Taxon: Pyrausta aurata

Authority: (Scopoli, 1763)

Vernacular: Mint Moth

Account: Local, on chalk downland and open, grassy areas, discontinuously throughout much of England, Wales and southern Scotland Flies by day and night. The main confusion species is P. purpuralis which is larger and occurs less frequently in gardens. P. aurata has fewer cream spots on the forewing and the spot near the dorsal edge is either absent or small and broken into three parts. P. purpuralis has a rounded leading edge to the dorsal cream spot. Note that the purple scales apparent when freshly emerged quickly wear off and leave just a brown appearance. Larva feeds on Mint, Marjoram and Thyme, living within a silken tube or tent.

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: 15 — 18mm

Surrey Flight Period: 10 Apr (2017) — 20 Sep (2024)

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

Foodplant: Labiatae, Mentha sp.

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

Status: Common

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/pyrausta-aurata/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 413

Individuals: 100

Earliest Year: 1972

Latest Year: 2025

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