Yorkshire Status: Common resident.

Micropterix species are small, with glossy purplish or bronze-coloured wings held at a steep angle. They are a very primitive group of moths, with functioning jaws, feeding on pollen.

This is the commonest member of the genus. Porritt called it "abundant everywhere" in 1907, and it is still a common moth over much of the county, particularly in VC62 and 64. Its name "calthella" refers to Caltha palustris (marsh marigold), upon which the moths can be found eating pollen on sunny days in late spring. It is even more commonly seen on buttercup species where it can appear in large numbers. Shaded areas such as woodland rides are preferred to buttercups in open meadows. It can also be found on other plants such as sedges. It can be difficult to separate from females of Micropterix aruncella but calthella has the base of the forewing entirely purple whereas females of aruncella has purple only on the costa

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Recorded from all five vice-counties, and is locally common to abundant.

Recorded in 85 (43%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1859. Last Recorded in 2023. Additional Stats

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