Species Details

ABH: 63.066

BF: 1333

Family: Crambidae

Subfamily: Scopariinae

Taxon: Scoparia pyralella

Authority: ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Vernacular: Brown-spot Grey

Account: Common on chalk downland and waste ground throughout much of Britain, less numerous in Scotland Although this is a variable species, it is usually easy to recognise by the rather short, broad wings, contrasting pattern and the distinctly ochreous rather than grey hue [Goater]. Despite most published literature stating that the larva feeds on various mosses and decaying vegetable matter, Bob Heckford (pers comm) has said that there is no confirmed record of the larva feeding on any moss species that he is aware of. In fact he and Stella Beavan may be the only people alive in Britain who have found the larva, feeding on dead leaves of Plantago lanceolata.

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: 17 — 20 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 5 May (2010) — 24 Oct (2025)

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

Foodplant: Senecio jacobaea (Common Ragwort).

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/scoparia-pyralella/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 158

Individuals: 21

Earliest Year: 1996

Latest Year: 2025

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