Common Crimson-and-gold Moth

Pyrausta purpuralis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae

Also called: Common Purple & Gold

No source yet on danger. We have no source yet on whether it bites, stings or damages anything.
Common Crimson-and-gold Moth
Photo: Kostas Zontanos, CC BY

The common crimson-and-gold moth has a wingspan of about 20 mm and flies during the day from May to September. Its forewings are purple mixed with dark grey and have ochreous-yellow markings edged in black; hindwings are black with whitish-ochreous spots and streaks. It is found across Europe, its larvae feed on mint, and it looks similar to Pyrausta aurata and Pyrausta ostrinalis.

Source: Wikipedia

How to recognize it

Forewings are purple with dark grey, showing ochreous-yellow markings edged in black, including an oblique basal fascia, a central spot, and an irregular post-median fascia that may break into three spots. Hindwings are black, sometimes with a whitish-ochreous base, a discal spot, a curved post-median fascia, and occasional subterminal streaks that can be whitish-ochreous or purple.

Source: Wikipedia

Size

The wingspan is about 20 mm.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it lives

The moth is active during daylight hours.

Source: Wikipedia

What it eats

Larvae feed on mint plants.

Source: Wikipedia

Life cycle

Adults are on the wing from May to September, varying with location.

Source: Wikipedia

When you see it

Flight period spans May through September, depending on where it is found.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it comes from

It occurs throughout Europe.

Source: Wikipedia

Lookalikes

It closely resembles Pyrausta aurata and Pyrausta ostrinalis.

Source: Wikipedia

More photos

Common Crimson-and-gold Moth photo 3
Photo: Kostas Zontanos, CC BY

Same family (Crambidae)

Box Tree MothBox Tree MothCydalima perspectalisDamages trees, gardens or cropsCelery Leaftier MothCelery Leaftier MothUdea rubigalisDamages trees, gardens or cropsElegant Grass-veneerElegant Grass-veneerMicrocrambus elegansHawaiian Beet Webworm MothHawaiian Beet Webworm MothSpoladea recurvalisDamages trees, gardens or cropsGarden Grass-veneerGarden Grass-veneerChrysoteuchia culmellaDamages trees, gardens or cropsBluegrass Webworm MothBluegrass Webworm MothParapediasia teterrellusDamages trees, gardens or crops

Sources

  • Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrausta_purpuralis

Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia

Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.

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