About Adela croesella Scopoli, 1763
Adela croesella is a moth species belonging to the family Adelidae, found across most of Europe. This species has a wingspan of 11 to 14 millimeters. Its head is ferruginous mixed with black scaling. Male antennae are 2.5 times the length of the forewing, black with white tips; female antennae are only 1.5 times the length of the forewing, thickened with violet-black scales above the middle, with the remaining portion white. Forewings are shining dark violet fuscous, with more or less diffuse golden-ochreous streaks between the veins. They have a straight deep yellow fascia located just beyond the middle, narrower towards the costa, first edged with dark fuscous, then with narrow violet fasciae. Hindwings are dark purplish fuscous. Adults are active from late May to June, flying during the daytime in sunshine and visiting flowers. Young larvae are thought to feed on the flowers of Hippophae rhamnoides or Ligustrum vulgare. Older larvae construct a portable case from leaf fragments and soil particles, and feed on fallen leaves.
