Identification

Subspecies plantaginella is the one found here.

Recording method

Frass in the centre of a plant, or wilting greyish leaves, indicate the presence of a larva.

Life cycle

Larvae present March-August, feeding within blotches on leaves or in a root.  Young larvae have been found between spun leaves of  Sea Plantain.  Adults fly May-September.

Larval foodplants

Buck’s-horn Plantain and Sea Plantain.  Rarely, Ribwort Plantain.

History

The first for Dumfries & Galloway was found at the Needles Eye, Kirkcudbrightshire, on 20th July 1963 by E. C. Pelham Clinton, while the first for Wigtownshire was found at Port of Counan on 21st July 2006 during a ‘Grey Daggers’ Moth Group field meeting, with the Dumfriesshire first being found at Caerlaverock WWT on 27 June 2014.