White Plume Moth Pterophorus pentadactyla Adult • Upton Fen, Norfolk • © Peter Horsefield

45.030 BF1513

White Plume Moth Pterophorus pentadactyla (Linnaeus, 1758) Wingspan 26-34 mm.



Probably the most distinctive of the 'Plume' moths, and one of the largest. Its wings are deeply divided into several 'fingers', each of which is finely feathered, or plumed.



Quite common over much of Britain, inhabiting dry grassland, waste ground and gardens.



The adults fly from dusk onwards in June and July, and sometimes have a second generation in September.



The caterpillars overwinter and feed on bindweed (Convolvulus).