Purple-bordered Gold
Scientific name: Idaea muricata
June - July. Found in England, Wales and western Ireland. This small moth, with variable markings, is always pink and yellow. Found on damp heaths, bogs, mosses, wet grassland.
This brightly coloured small moth is most frequently pink with yellow patches and margins, and a fine purple border. However, almost entirely pink individuals with small yellow spots can occur.
Flies from dusk onwards, but is easily disturbed from vegetation during the day.
Size and Family
- Family – Waves (Sterrhines)
- Small Sized
Conservation status
- UK BAP: Not listed
- Scarce ( Nationally Scarce B)
Particular Caterpillar Food Plants
Marsh Cinquefoil.
Distribution
- Countries – England, Wales
- Not recorded from Scotland, being of restricted distributioon in the rest of Britain, including east Dorset and Hampshire, Surrey, parts of East Anglia, Shropshire, Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria. Very restricted to parts of the south-west and west of Ireland.
Habitat
Frequents damp habitats including heaths, fens and mosses.
