Selania leplastriana
Coast Piercer
Coast Piercer Selania leplastriana
Larval feeding on Brassica oleracea • Dartmouth, South Devon • © Bob Heckford

Selania leplastriana
Coast Piercer

49.346 BF1218

(Curtis, 1831)

Wingspan c. 13mm.

A rather scarce and local species, restricted to coastal localities in Kent, Dorset and South Devon, inhabiting cliffs and slopes where the foodplant, wild cabbage (Brassica oleracea) occurs.

The larvae feed in the stems of the foodplant, where the only sign of their presence is a small amount of frass ejected from the feeding area.

Adult moths fly during the day in July, especially in sunshine.

More images

  • Adult • Dartmouth, South Devon • © Bob Heckford
  • Adult • Stone Bay, Broadstairs, Kent; around Wild Cabbage at cliff base • © Francis Solly
  • Adult • Stone Bay, Broadstairs, Kent; around Wild Cabbage at cliff base • © Francis Solly
  • Larva • Torquay, S. Devon • © Bob Heckford
  • Larval feeding on Brassica oleracea • Dartmouth, South Devon • © Bob Heckford
  • Larval feeding on Brassica oleracea • Dartmouth, South Devon • © Bob Heckford
  • Show distribution map

Reference

Bradley, J.D. Checklist of Lepidoptera Recorded from The British Isles, Second Edition (Revised) (2000)

Bradley, J.D., Tremewan, W.G., Smith, A British Tortricoid Moths - Volume 2 (1979)