Last modified: Jan. 3, 2024, 2:17 p.m.
A very rare species that has not been seen for a long time in Belgium. Probably extinct.
Native
Wingspan 12–13 mm. Head, middle and back body grey-brown. Palps and antennae pale grey. Eyes red. Forewings dark brown with small, black disc points. A faint outer transverse line, usually with a white spot at the leading edge. Hindwings grey-brown with more intense dark shades towards the edge, it's strongly fringed.
Can be externally very similar to Anacampsis timidella which is usually bigger, but not always separable without dissection of the genitalia.
The larvae are yellowish greyish with black warts on each segment, sparse grayish white hairs, black head and prothoracic shield.
The pupa is elongated and brown, ocher or reddish in color.
The larva lives on the host plant whereby it contracts the top and uppermost leaves and thereby builds a cavity in a white web in which it gnaws through the entire thickness of the leaves.
The butterfly flies at night and comes to light.
Adults usually fly from mid-July towards late August in one generation a year.
The larva feeds on Helianthemum nummularium, abroad also on Helianthemum canum, Cistus sp. and on Halimium.
It occurs on calcareous rocky slopes.
