Morley’s Final Catalogue: Not very frequent, for a thistle-feeder. Rarely in Bentley Woods during March, and at Monks Soham light in Feb.—March 1921-36 (Mly); Leiston (Grey).

Recent Status: Scarce but widely distributed in Suffolk.

Life Style: The moth is single brooded and hibernates. It is night flying and comes to light. The larvae initially mine a leaf and then feed from a spinning near the mid vein of Cirsium vulgare or C. arvense. Pupates in a cocoon on the ground.

Identification: The moth is a smaller (16 to 19 mm wing span), rounded winged Agonopterix. The colour is light brownish often densely spotted, mottled and shaded darker. It has a basal dash and spotted termen. The Agonopterix twin spots may be present. The central suffuse patch can be large if present. The wing base, thorax and head may be paler.

Recorded in 21 (36%) of 58 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1921. Last Recorded in 2023. Additional Stats

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