Scythris cicadella

Description

Scythris cicadella, the sand owlet, is a moth of the Scythrididae family. It was described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1839. It is found in central and south-western Europe. The habitat consists of dry or sandy soil. The wingspan is 9–11 mm. The forewings are deep brown. Females have numerous bluish-white scales. Males are heavily dusted, giving the forewings an almost white appearance. Adults are on wing from mid-May to the end of June and fly during the day when they visit flowers. The larvae feed on Scleranthus annuus and Scleranthus perennis. Larvae can be found in May and June.