Platytes cerussella

Platytes cerussella is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It is found in almost all of Europe.

Platytes cerussella
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Crambidae
Subfamily:	Crambinae
Tribe:	Crambini
Genus:	Platytes
Species:	P. cerussella
Binomial name
Platytes cerussella (Denis & Schiffermuller, 1775)
Synonyms
Tinea cerussella Denis & Schiffermuller, 1775 Crambus cerucellus Wood, 1839 Crambus cerusellus Stephens, 1834 Crambus pygmaeus Stephens, 1834 Crambus pygmaeus Stephens, 1829 Platytes quadrella Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775 Tinea auriferella Hübner, 1796 Palparia aurifera Haworth, 1811 Thisanotia auriferalis Hübner, 1825 Tinea barbella Hübner, 1796 Palparia barba Haworth, 1811

The wingspan is 12–16 mm. Males are darker in tone than females and usually slightly larger. Adults are usually flying in June and July.

Fig. 1 larva after final moult

The larvae feed on the roots of various plants growing under stones in sandy soil, including Carex arenaria, Festuca and other Gramineae species.