Marsh Marigold Moth

I spent the afternoon with the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union at Osgodby Coppice, recording plants and helping a less experienced botanist with his identifications. Although I should have been concentrating on the flora, I got slightly distracted by very large numbers of Marsh Marigold Moth, feeding on the pollen of Pendulous Sedge.

This is a tiny species, with a wingspan of around 8 to 10mm, but has rather glittery metallic bronze forewings, with a purple patch on the base of the costa and purplish tinges in places. It's other feature is its rather punky yellow hairdo - I always think it looks like it's been at the peroxide!

It occurs throughout most of Britain, and can be found flying in the daytime in May and June, where it feeds on the pollen of various plants, most conspicuously in large numbers on Creeping Buttercup and in woodland on sedges.