Status
Morley’s Final Catalogue: Not listed
Recent Status: This species widespread from China to Norway and resident in Dorset was taken for the first time in East Suffolk during August 2023.
Life Style: The moth is single brooded flying during June, July and August and will come to light. The larvae feed on a variety of grass species spinning leaves together or curling a single broader leaf. They change feeding locations and pupate in one used solely for pupation.
Identification: Helcystogramma lutatella has a similar habitus to our common H. rufescens but is a brown ochre rather than the bright orange ochre of H. rufescens. It shows contrasting whitish fore tibia and tarsi. H. lutatella shows black dots clearly on the forewing that are seldom evident on H. rufescens. There are two at one third and one at two thirds that may show white scales on the basal and distal sides. The two at one third lie roughly parallel to each other which contrasts to the dots on the possible confusion species Brachmia inornatella. It has the dorsal spot well basad of the costal dot. The labial palps of H. lutatella are entirely white whereas those of H. rufescens have brown scales on the outer margin. H. lutatella has a pale subterminal line, not strongly marked and the wing is usually darker beyond it with the terminal edge dark marked. There are a number of Helcystogramma species in Europe that could be found as immigrants in Britain https://lepiforum.org/wiki/taxonomy/Gelechioidea/Gelechiidae/Dichomeridinae/Helcystogramma?view=0 and H. triannulella has been found in the Isles of Scilly.
The larvae, in common with other Helcystogramma species are a strikingly marked black and white.Verification Grade Comment: A clear photo showing the labial palps will be required.  | Retained Specimen / Photograph will be Required. | |
Recorded in 2 (3%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 2023.
Last Recorded in 2024.
Additional Stats |