63.006 BF1361 - Crambidae - Pyraustinae - Pyrausta aurata

63.006 BF1361 - Crambidae - Pyraustinae - Pyrausta aurata - Mint moth

Adult Micro: CAT 1 - Distinctive Species -

- click for Verification Guidelines

- Generally Common / Widespread - Day-flying

Taxonomy: Micro >> Crambidae

Other Name/s: Small Purple and Gold

ID Difficulty: amber

- care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely - quality photographs required.
Confusion Species: Pyrausta purpuralis

ID pointers: A small triangular shaped moth with a bright purple forewing and black hindwing. The forewing has an obvious gold spot in the mid-area, sometimes with smaller spots. Hindwing has a golden cross-band running through it.

Distribution: Widespread across the county. Found on Garden Mint and also on Marjoram, so locally common in the dales.

Flight Period: May / June / July / August / - On the wing during May – August.

Moth Activity: Cathemeral - fly both during the day and the night

Wingspan: 18-20mm

Food Plant: Mint (Mentha spp.).

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

IMAGES BELOW: Melbourne, Derbyshire – Tony Davison© & Curbar – Jane & Phil Lester©

Pyrausta aurata – Jane & Phil Lester – Small Purple and Gold (Mint Moth)

Pyrausta aurata