Endothenia nigricostana

In 2010 I allowed a patch of Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica to thrive in a corner of our garden and it has since spread to quite a few areas.  Not only is it reasonably attractive (for a weed!) but I found it being used by the smart little Woundwort Shield-bug Eysarcoris venustissimus.  The shield-bug colony continues to thrive and each subsequent year I've also had at least one example of the uncommon tortix Endothenia nigricostana, whose larvae use the same food-plant, either in the moth-trap or found sitting on a leaf during the daytime.  I've never actually looked for the larvae but the moth is obviously a garden resident and this year's first adult example was spotted today while mowing the lawn, sitting in plain view on a leaf of Hedge Woundwort.  Even when well-marked the moth isn't exactly the most exciting species to look at and today's example wasn't at all well-marked!

Hedge Woundwort, Westcott

Woundwort Shield-bugs, Westcott

Endothenia nigricostana, Westcott 16th June

Dave Wilton
Westcott, Bucks