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Ephestia woodiella
False Cacao Moth
Ephestia parasitella
Ephestia unicolorella
Wingspan 14 to 20 mm.
Unlike most of its congeners, this species is not a pest of dried foods in warehouses and kitchens, and occurs out-of-doors.
Flying between June and September, when it can be attracted to light.
Most probably feeding on dried leaves and other plant matter.
Formerly quite local but probably increasing in frequency and spreading from it's base in southern England. In the Butterfly Conservations Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Previously uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland, it now seems to be much more frequent in our area.
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015
UK Map
Species profile
- Common names
- False Cacao Moth
- Species group:
- Moths
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Lepidoptera
- Family:
- Pyralidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 48
- First record:
- 26/06/2010 (Skevington, Mark)
- Last record:
- 29/06/2023 (Graves, Hazel)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
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