Food Plant: Ruta chalepensis (Fringed Rue), R.graveolens (Common Rue)

Egg: underside the leaf, away from the edge

Mine: Continuously brooded or possibly four generations: April-May; July-August; September; October-November

Notes: The moth was discovered in London in 2003- 2007(Agassiz, 2007) and subsequently found in urban locations in the south east of England by 2016 (Agassiz & Kiddle, 2016). The life history was unknown until Plant (2016) was able to elucidate this. The first instar larvae mine within the upper surface of a leaf and exit on the upper side. Subsequent larval instars mine the leaves full depth and move frequently to other leaves. The final instar larva may mine a leaf or feed externally. The pupa is formed in loosely spun leaves and hangs head down, attached by the cremaster. Pupation lasts around 7 days. The newly emerged adults drop to the ground when disturbed. An affected plant is shown,

Bradley No: 449b

National Status: Adventive colonist

Data: x.2016, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, VC20

Image:© Colin Plant

References:
Agassiz, D. J. L., 2007. Prays peregrina sp. n., (Lep.: Yponomeutidae) a presumed adventive species in Greater London. Nota Lepidopterologica 30(2): 407 – 410;
Agassiz, D. and Kiddie, R. 2016. Prays peregrina Agassiz - the enigmatic adventive (Lep.: Praydidae). Entomologist’s Record and Journal of Variation 128: 134-136;
Beavan, S.D., 2017, An April record of prays peregrina Agassiz, 2006 (lep.:Praydidae), Entomologist’s Record and Journal of Variation 129: 176-178
Plant, C.W., 2016. On the early stages of Prays peregrina, Agassiz, 2007 (Lep.:Praydidae). Entomologist’s Record and Journal of Variation 128: 311-317