18.001 BF464 - Plutellidae - Plutella xylostella

18.001 BF464 - Plutellidae - Plutella xylostella - Diamond-back Moth - (Linnaeus, 1758)

Adult Micro: CAT 1 - Distinctive Species -

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- Generally Common / Widespread - Migrant - Day-flying

Taxonomy: Micro >> Plutellidae

ID Difficulty: green

- easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.

ID pointers: A tiny species with upturned wingtips.Head and thorax is typically white with a greyish-brown forewing, slightly mottled. A whitish dorsal band with diamond shaped markings which is from where the moth gets its name.

Distribution: A common migrant that can be found anywhere in the county at anytime between March and November. Sometimes in their thousands. In June 2016 there was a major influx into Britain and I had literally hundreds in my garden on the 1st June.

Flight Period: April / May / June / July / August / September / October / November / - On the wing March – November – migrant

Moth Activity: Cathemeral - and is attracted to light

*** Last updated on 9 March 2025 by RP ***

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Wingspan: 12-17mm

Food Plant: Brassica spp. or Cruciferae.

Recorded dates for Common [Blue-coded ] moths are not stored on the website at this current time.

IMAGES BELOW: Melbourne, Derbyshire – Tony Davison ©

Plutella xylostella

This specimen from a major influx during June 2016 – note the very sandy colours untypical of the norm.

This specimen from a major influx during June 2016 – note the very sandy colours untypical of the norm.

18.001 BF464 - Plutella xylostella - Diamond-back Moth Melbourne, Derbyshire - migrant - 1st June 2016 - major influx Tony Davison©

18.001 BF464 - Plutella xylostella - Diamond-back Moth Melbourne, Derbyshire - migrant -1st June 2016 - major influx Tony Davison©