22.003 BF448a

Prays ruficeps
Cryptic Ash Bud Moth

(Heinemann, 1854)

Wingspan 14-18 mm.

Formerly considered to be a dark variant of the Ash Bud Moth (P. fraxinella), this form has recently been elevated to species status, by DNA barcoding. It is similar to the dark forms of that species, but generally has a more uniform dark forewing, and a contrastingly orange-brown head.

Like fraxinella, the larvae of the current species feed on Ash (fraxinus), but its full status is not yet fully understood due to older records probably having been attributed to dark forms of fraxinus.