The Wormwood - Cucullia absinthii
Wingspan 32 to 40 mm. Like other members of the Cuculliinae, when at rest they have an accentuated posture with a forward-projecting tuft of hair on the thorax.
Occupying waste ground, quarries, sea-cliffs and similar habitats.
The adults are on the wing in July.
The larvae eat the flowers and seeds of Wormwood or Mugwort.
A rather local species, occurring in scattered locations throughout England and Wales. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.
Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = C (very scarce resident or rare migrant).
Mark Skevington
Syston
26 June 2001
ex-larva
Mark Skevington
Syston
30 August 2005
larva, headcapsule detached preparing to shed skin for next instar
Pete Leonard
Harby
16 July 2022
Adrian Russell
Belgrave wasteground
15 September 2012
larva found on Wormwood
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Species profile
- Common names
- Wormwood
- Species group:
- Moths
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Lepidoptera
- Family:
- Noctuidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 4
- First record:
- 26/06/2001 (Skevington, Mark)
- Last record:
- 16/07/2022 (Leonard, Pete)
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