Platytes cerussella

Platytes cerussella is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It is found in almost all of Europe.^[1][2]

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.^[3] Males are darker in tone than females and usually slightly larger. Adults are usually flying in June and July.^[4]

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.^[5]