It is a very common moth, flying at dusk during June and July in waste places where the stinging nettle grows.
The caterpillar is whitish, with a dark dorsal line. It feeds on the
stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), always remaining concealed between leaves which it has spun together with silken threads.
The Mother-of-Pearl (Botys ruralis)
This is another very common species of the family Botydæ, abundant almost everywhere, and to be found on the wing from June to August.
Its wings are whitish, and exhibit a very decided pearly lustre, and all the markings are of a dull dark grey.
The caterpillar is glossy, and has a semi-transparent appearance. It is greenish white above, with a darker line down the back; and the sides are of a brighter green. It feeds on the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) during May.