Food Plant: Silene vulgaris (Bladder Campion), S.nutans ( Spanish Catchfly)

Egg: laid on the flowerhead

Mine: August-May

Notes: The larva initially feeds inside the seed capsules and then forms a silken case which is covered with fragments of the seed husk (as shown). It attaches itself to the outside of the seed capsule (as shown). When fully fed (in August or September) it leaves the host plant to overwinter attached to vegetation. Formerly C.silenella. Case shown on Silene vulgaris (Bladder Campion)

Data: 01.viii.2022, Lower Stondon, Bedfordshire, VC30

Image:© Melissa Banthorpe