White-strap Sober

Appearance

ID: Similar to other Aproaerema species - but finding specimens on bird's-foot trefoil narrows the choice down to S.larseniella/cinctella/taeniolella.
S.taeniolella shows a narrow pale fascia on the forewing underside and a pale costal spot on the hindwing underside; S.larseniella shows a less distinct pale fascia on the forewing underside and lacks the pale spot on the hindwing underside
Male genitalia: The aedeagus has a strong sclerotisation on one side in the apical half.

Naming

The term 'palp moth' refers to the curved palps; in German palpenmoths and most species of the genus Syncopacma have a white cross band.

Distribution

Europe.

Behavior

The larva lives in a spinning between the leaves of the food plant.
Pupation in a reddish brown silken cocoon.
The adults become active during late afternoon sun above their food plants and later come to light.
The adults fly from end of May till July.

Habitat

Fairly common resident of damp woodland rides and commons.

Food

The larva feeds on Lotus corniculatus or Lotus uliginosus.
Swamp clover (Lotus pedunculatus) (Bland et al., 2002a) and very rarely also other species of related clovers, including according to Elsner et al. (1999a) common roller clover (Lotus corniculatus).