About Stenoptilia pterodactyla (Linnaeus, 1761)
This species is the moth Stenoptilia pterodactyla, first described by Linnaeus in 1761. Adult moths have a wingspan of 20–26 mm. This species has one generation per year, with adults flying from late May to early August. Adults can be easily disturbed during the daytime, and they will come to light at dusk. Care is required when identifying this moth, because worn S. pterodactyla specimens look very similar to worn specimens of the related species Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla. Fresh S. pterodactyla can be distinguished from S. bipunctidactyla by two key features: S. pterodactyla has fine white hairs along the wing costa, the leading edge of the wing, and its wings are ochreous in colour, while S. bipunctidactyla has grey-brown wings and dark costal cilia. These distinguishing differences are often much less visible in worn specimens of both species. From August to March, larvae mine the stems and shoots of germander speedwell, Veronica chamaedrys. In April and May, larvae feed on the flowers of this plant.
