Mint moth
Pyrausta aurata
Moth
The mint moth (Pyrausta aurata) is a small day-flying crambid moth with purplish-brown forewings marked with golden yellow spots, giving rise to the alternative name 'small purple and gold'; its wingspan is 18-20 mm. It occurs across most of Europe and temperate Asia, extending through North Africa, the Middle East, and east to Siberia, China, Korea, and Japan; it inhabits chalk and limestone grassland, marshland, and gardens. Larvae are oligophagous on Lamiaceae, feeding within spun leaves of mints (Mentha spp.), marjoram (Origanum vulgare), catmint (Nepeta cataria), meadow clary (Salvia pratensis), lemon balm, and calamints. Adults fly by day and night in two broods (May-June and July-August), visiting the same aromatic herbs for nectar.
Plan for this species
Location-fit plant set for Chicago, IL: host and specialist plants first, then nectar, fruit, seed, foliage, and shelter plants that still fit the current and mid-century climate read.
3 essential relationships / 0 supporting plants
Host/specialist links: 3
Forage/pollination links: 0
Shelter links: 0
Relationship roles: 1
Catmint
Essential / Larval host plants
Catmint (Nepeta) is a documented Lamiaceae larval host for this oligophagous moth.
Oregano
Essential / Larval host plants
Wild marjoram (Origanum vulgare) is a documented larval foodplant; caterpillars feed within spun leaves.
Garden salvia
Essential / Larval host plants
The documented Salvia host is meadow clary (S. pratensis); garden sage is a plausible same-genus host but not specifically recorded.
Plants in the catalog
Larval host plants · 3
Catmint (Nepeta) is a documented Lamiaceae larval host for this oligophagous moth.
The documented Salvia host is meadow clary (S. pratensis); garden sage is a plausible same-genus host but not specifically recorded.
Wild marjoram (Origanum vulgare) is a documented larval foodplant; caterpillars feed within spun leaves.
Nectar plants · 1
Day-flying adults also nectar at marjoram flowers, the same plant used for larval development.
Range
Widespread across Europe (including the British Isles, reaching north to southern Scotland), North Africa, Asia Minor, the Middle East, Central Asia, and east through Siberia to China, Korea, and Japan.
Sources & citations
Cite this page
Use this citation for the Plotwright wildlife page. The source cards below show the upstream references behind the taxonomy, range, conservation, host, forage, and habitat claims.
Plotwright. (n.d.). Mint moth (Pyrausta aurata). Retrieved 2026, June 30, from https://plotwright.com/wildlife/mint-moth
Sources for wildlife facts
4 cited fact fields are backed by the source cards below.
Mint moth — Wikipedia
Identification as the 'small purple and gold', the Palearctic range, the Lamiaceae larval hosts (mint, marjoram, catmint, meadow clary), and the two-brood day/night flight.
Backs 4 fields
Taxonomy
Range
Host plants
Lifecycle