Photo © Jenny Seawright
Prays ruficeps
Checklist Number22.003 [B&F: 0448a]
Verification
Record will normally be accepted but photo evidence may be required - check with CMR if not sure of identity
Wingspan 14-17 mm. Originally thought a dark form of Prays fraxinella , DNA bar coding has indicated that P. ruficeps is a species distinct in its own right. P.fraxinella does have a dark form but in it the faint "fraxinella" markings of the normal, black and white form can still be distinguished. Prays ruficeps is uniformly dark brown/blackish with an orangey red head. Old records of the so-called f. rustica of fraxinella could refer to either, so its historic status is unknowable. The larva feeds on Ash.
The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:
No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Larval | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Records by week (adult)
Records by week (larval)