Status
Morley’s Final Catalogue: Found in Suffolk (Steph. Illust. 1834, p. 230). Does not appear to have been noticed in the County since recorded a Century ago from Wrentham by Curtis : until Dr. Whittingham turned it up at the opposite extremity, Mildenhall, in 1907.
Recent Status: Found across Suffolk, not commonly.
Life Style: The moth flies in sunshine over the foodplants it also comes to light from April to June. The egg is thought to be laid on flowers or young leaves of Ligustrum vulgare, Hippophae, Fraxinus and Ulmus. After feeding on the foodplant the larvae fall to the ground and construct a flat case from soil and frass. It feeds on dead vegetation and overwinters as a larva.
Identification: A very attractively marked Adela species with a wing length of 5 to 6.5 mm. It has an orange and black head. The forewing has a central deep yellow band edged in purple. The rest of the forewing is dark with a purple sheen and is golden between the veins. There is no similar British species that is so small.Recorded in 16 (28%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1837.
Last Recorded in 2023. |