35.015 Nothris verbascella (Hübner, 1813)

Verbascum pulverulentum (hoary mullein), see plant distribution map. In Europe reported from Verbascum densiflorum (dense-flowered mullein), V. phlomoides (orange mullein) and V. thapsus (great mullein).

Pre-1972 in Britain, the larvae could be found throughout the year, initially gregariously on undeveloped leaves in the centre of the plant. In the spring newly emerged larvae were found feeding on younger leaves or boring into stalks or stems, while the over-wintered larvae fed under the larger lower leaves in a silken web. The September 2024 reports included obvious feeding signs, a few pupae, and adults resting on the foodplant.

In Spring 2025 Dave Jones reported checking apparent feeding signs at the main site with 16 larvae located. One of the other sites from 2024 was also checked and amongst c14 plants, several had apparent feeding signs with one larva found. In all but one case he only found one larva per plant although he advises it's possible there were more hidden. The exception was one plant which was large and relatively isolated which had at least 3 larvae. The larvae were usually found in a 'mess' of material often formed into a protective 'cocoon' on the underside of a leaf or more often in the heart of the rosette - often this was littered with frass. In many cases there were numerous patches where a larva had evidently fed leaving behind a vacated 'cocoon'. Once exposed the larva usually moved surprisingly quickly often burrowing deeper into the heart of the rosette. Most of the larvae were approximately 1cm but on the plant with three, each was a different size with one being very small.