Morley’s Final Catalogue: Not listed.

Recent Status: First recorded in UK during 1980 and in Suffolk during 1986 this is the least common species of Dioryctria in the UK and Suffolk.

Life Style: A single brooded species flying during summer and coming to light. The larvae feed externally from a spinning on Picea abies, Picea glauca and Abies alba. The larvae overwinter and pupate in the spring. More Info

Identification: The genus Dioryctria Zeller, 1946 is distinctive. They have white forewings marked with black. There are discrete white pre and post median lines and a white discal spot. There is a sub-basal line and dorsally between the pre median and sub-basal line is a patch variably marked with orange brown. There are four species recognised in Britain that are also the common recognised species of Western Europe. Dioryctria schuetzeella is the smallest species, It has one or more pale spots placed sub-terminally on the hindwing and the forewing shows a stronger separation of the white and black patterning, with relatively broader white lines than the other species. The orange patch is weak. Dioryctria sylvestrella is the largest species. It shows a strongly marked orange patch. The post median line is reportedly sinuate not dentate, but this is not always easy to judge. The discal spot is more quadrate and bold than in the other species. The species of the ‘abietella’ group (simplicella and abietella in Britain) have a complex phylogenetic relationship. In Britain Dioryctria simplicella is defined as strongly irrorate with black scales making the whole moth appear grey and without an orange patch or with just a few orange scales present.. Dioryctria abietella shows more distinct markings and has a stronger orange patch. Both have a dentate post median line. Each species of Dioryctria shows variation in the markings that can blur the differences outlined. Melanic individuals can occur that are usually placed with D. simplicella.

	Retained Specimen / Photograph will be Required.

Recorded in 7 (12%) of 58 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1986. Last Recorded in 2024. Additional Stats

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