45.028 BF1494

Wood-sage Plume Capperia britanniodactylus

(Gregson, 1869)

Wingspan 18-21 mm.

This species is distributed widely in mainland Britain, but can be quite local. It likes dry, south-facing and sloping stony habitats, where the larvae feed on wood sage (Teucrium scorodonia).

In spring, the larva bites through a stem of the foodplant, causing it to wilt. These wilted stems can be quite obvious and are a good indicator to find the larva, which feeds amongst the drooping leaves.

The moths fly in June and July, and are only generally seen from dusk onwards, hiding by day amongst the foodplants.