ABH: 32.019

Status:  Unknown

Distribution/Abundance:  Rare (prob under-recorded)

Primary Habitat:  Wasteground, Grassland, Roadside verges

Wingspan:  19-24mm

Flight Period:  August, and up to May after hibernation.

Observations: Larvae feed on a variety of umbelliferous plants. The species is widespread in adjacent counties and thus may be under-recorded due to confusion with A. heracliana.

Confusion Species:  Agonopterix heracliana - adult live moths can be reliably separated from A. heracliana on colour. A. ciliella has a pink or slightly purplish pink tinge. At a minimum this is on the underside of the hindwing cilia then on the hind leg hairs. This colour can extent over the whole moth. A. heracliana never has this colour. The number of lines in the hindwing cilia is not a reliable character as A. heracliana can also have 5 but they are less strong. A. ciliella is larger than A. heracliana and the markings are more strongly contrasting.

L.O.N.:  N/A

First Record:  1989, Higgs