Cauchas rufimitrella is a diurnal lepidopteran from the family Adelidae, the fairy long horn moths. It is found in almost all of Europe, except Portugal, Ukraine and the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula.
The wingspan of the moth ranges from 10 to 12 millimeters. The thick erect hairs on the head vertex are black, more or less ferruginous-mixed above. Antennae in male 2 [2x the length of the wing], in female 1.5, black, tip whitish. The forewings are shining brassy bronze, sometimes partly or wholly coppery or metallic red purple. The hindwings are dark purplish fuscous.Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf Keys and descriptionLangmaid, J. R., Palmer, S. M. & Young, M. R. [eds]. 2018 A Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of Great Britain and Ireland [3rd ed.]Reading, Berkshire. British Entomological and Natural History Societylepiforum.de includes imagesSterling, P. and Parsons, M. 2012 Field Guide to the Micro Moths of Great Britain and Ireland Dorset British Wildlife Publishing, 2012, - 2nd edition (Bloomsbury Wildlife Guides)Zagulajev, A.K., 1987 Adelidae; in G.S. Medvedev (ed.): Keys to the insects of the europaean part of the USSR, Vol.IV: Lepidoptera, part 1 (english translation), Oxonian Press Pvt.Ltd., New Dehli, 1987
The flight time is May to June.
Caterpillars live on the seeds of Cardamine pratensis and then they pupate over the winter.
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