Last modified: April 19, 2024, 3:13 p.m.
A common species throughout Belgium.
Native
The egg is laid on the axils of the flowers and stalks of the host plant. The young larva lives in a chamber divided into 3 to 5 compartments spun on the underside of a leaf. In later stages it lives on decaying leaves on the ground, feeding in mild weather throughout the winter.
Pupation in a cocoon attached to a dead leaf on the ground.
It has an unusual resting posture. The front part of the body is raised up on the forelegs, and the wings held at an angle, with the edges touching the resting surface.
The adults are active at dusk and later come to light.
The adults fly from mid-May till the end of October but most specimens are on the wing from late June till August.
The larvae feed initially on a range of plants and bushes, and later amongst leaf-litter. Food plants known are Lotus uliginosus, but probably also on other, like Corylus, Quercus, Salix, Carpinus, Ligustrum or Agrimonium.