Mother of Pearl

The forewings are pale yellowish-brown mottled with grey or brown cross-lines. All four wings are held open at rest displaying a colourful pearly sheen in certain light conditions.

The adults are easily disturbed from nettles during the day and fly from dusk onwards. They are often attracted to light.

Size and Family

• Family – Crambidae
• Medium Sized

Conservation status

• UK BAP: not listed
• Common

Caterpillar Food Plants

Feeds mainly on Common Nettle (Urtica dioica) but also on Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra) and English Elm (Ulmus procera), in a rolled-up leaf.

Habitat

Found in gardens, waste ground, woodland, hedgerows and downland.

Distribution

• Countries – England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland
• Common and well distributed throughout most of Britain, the Isle of Man and Ireland as well as the Channel Islands. Rarer in Northern Ireland and the northern part of mainland Scotland.