Morley’s Final Catalogue: By no means frequent: Rare about Ipswich at both dusk and light in 1895 (Pyett); Southwold (Ctw), Covehithe (Gd); very local at Beccles (Crf) ; one at dusk in Burgh Castle marshes on on 5 August 1935 (Ellis). Brandon (Barrett) and two at Bamham in 1911 (Nurse).

Recent Status: Recorded across the county but not common.

Life Style: A single brooded species flying during summer and coming to light. The larvae will start their life by mining a leaf before entering a stem. Later instars will construct a case from stem fragments and feed on the inside of stems from that in a similar manner to the Coleophoridae. They pupate in the feeding location.

Identification: Donacaula forficella has a streak from the forewing apex to around half wing width that is present in both sexes, though may be less distinct in the larger female. The dorsal half of the wing is paler and has three small dark blotches. There is a dark spot at the end of the discal cell. There is a darker streak from the base in the costal half that reaches to around three fifths. The costa is paler. The hindwings in both sexes are white. The female has a deeper orangey brown colour compared to the whiter male and has the markings less distinct. The female has a more acute apex and could be confused with similar Chilo phragmitella however the costa of D. forficella is convex as it nears the apex. Any confusion with Schoenobius gigantella should be put to rest by the size difference.

Recorded in 41 (71%) of 58 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1895. Last Recorded in 2024. Additional Stats

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