Bronze Alder Moth

Appearance

"Argyresthia goedartella" has a wingspan of 10–13 mm. These tiny moths have pale ochreous head with white antennae and white forewings with coppery-golden markings. A characteristic coppery-golden Y-shaped marking is present in the middle of the wings. Hindwings are dark gray. Abdomen is grayish fuscous, while legs are brownish white.

Distribution

This very common species can be found in most of Europe and in North America.

Behavior

It is a univoltine species. These moths fly from May to October. They fly at night and on sunny afternoons and mainly feed on the nectar of tansy. The larvae feed on birch and alder. They overwinter in a shoot or hard male catkin of the host plants. In late March or April, larvae congregate and pupate in a cocoon under the bark.