(Gold) Mint moth Pyrausta aurata

The Mint moth Pyrausta aurata looks similar to its relative, the Mint moth Pyrausta purpuralis, but can usually be differentiated by the round gold blotch on its forewing and less gold either side of the gold round. Purpuralis has more gold, arranged in more of a bar. The background on both can be bright red-purple, especially in sunlight, or duller brown with age.

They fly by day and by night. Their caterpillars (below) feed on varieties of mint.

Wingspan 15-20mm; UK flight time May-Sep.

The small caterpillar has a variable background colour of green (light and dark), brown, red or charcoal grey but always with the light-bordered dark central line and the "port holes" as shown above. It grows to 13mm long before pupating on its host mint (above right).