Plutella porrectella

Wingspan 14 to 17 mm. This close relative of the familiar Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella) is slightly larger and more striated in appearance. The antennae have three darkish rings toward the tip.

Around Dame’s-violet

It flies during May and again in July to August. It is nocturnal and is attracted to light, and can be easily disturbed from the foodplant by day.

The larval foodplant is Dame's-violet. The larvae feed in April-May and June-July, distorting or connecting the leaves with a small amount of silk. It pupates in a distinctive white silk cocoon with a large open mesh, on the underside of a leaf.

It is fairly common in Britain in the vicinity of the foodplant. In the Butterfly Conservation’'s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = C (very scarce resident or rare migrant).