Species Details

ABH: 63.007

BF: 1362

Family: Crambidae

Subfamily: Pyraustinae

Taxon: Pyrausta purpuralis

Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular: Common Purple & Gold

Account: Found on chalk downland and dry, grassy areas, throughout much of Britain favouring very short turf Flies by day and night. At first glance, confusable with P. aurata, from which distinguished by its larger size and the rounded leading edge to the dorsal cream spot on the forewing. The hindwing always has one or two yellow spots or short, broad streaks; this is best seen by viewing the underside of the moth. Also see the very similar P. ostrinalis for differences. Note that the purple scales apparent when freshly emerged quickly wear off and leave just a brown appearance. Larva feeds on Wild Thyme and Large Thyme and sometimes Corn Mint, 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 — 22mm

Surrey Flight Period: 18 Apr (2003) — 4 Sep (2004)

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

Foodplant: Mentha arvensis (Corn Mint), Thymus 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-purpuralis/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 120

Individuals: 3

Earliest Year: 1986

Latest Year: 2025

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