Micropterix aruncella, White-barred Gold

Common Name: White-barred Gold

Micropterix aruncella, more commonly known as the White-barred Gold, is a very small moth with a wingspan typically of 5-7 mm. It flies during the daytime (this one was photographed on a nettle leaf in late May) and, unlike most moths, it has fully-developed mouth parts and eats pollen from a wide range of herbaceous plants.

The larvae is thought to feed on the ground on the detritus of plants. The male is pictured here, the female bearing no silver stripes on her wings. All members of the genus Micropterix are similar in that the adults have fully functional mouthparts, unlike most other moths, and feed on the pollen of various plants. Common and widespread throughout the UK.

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