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.
Flightime guide |
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Larval |
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