Mintmoth Pyrausta aurata
This is another beautiful pyralid. Just like Endotricha flammealis it flies by day. As the larvae live on mint mainly it is called the Mintmoth. There are two more purple species looking quite like this one, so be careful when labelling them! The Mint Moth is small, even for Pyralids, reaching a wingspan of no more than 16 to 18 mm. Appears in broad daylight mainly, but often flies about unnoticed due to its small size. This was a rarity up to about a hundred years ago. Nowadays becoming quite common, at least locally, because of mint, its larvae's food source, being planted in gardens. Is also said to like Marjoram and Clary. Can be found locally all over England, Wales and Southern Scotland.
