Morley’s Final Catalogue: Very local and sparse in Britain. Six specimens were taken in hedges and near the sea, far from any pines, at Southwold one day in June 1891 by Crutwell and Barrett (EMM. xxvii, 221). None have been seen later.

It is likely that Morley’s comments refer to Dioryctria abietella.

Recent Status: First recorded in the UK during 1995 and in Suffolk during 2001, the species is now well established primarily in the Sandlings and Breckland. It also continues to arrive as an immigrant.

Life Style: Dioryctria sylvestrella is a single brooded species that flies at night and comes to light during summer.
The larvae feed on the living bark of Pinus species. Severe infestation can cause the stunting of young trees. The larvae overwinter and pupate in the feeding location after completing growth in the spring.

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.

Recorded in 26 (45%) of 58 10k Squares. First Recorded in 2001. Last Recorded in 2024. Additional Stats

Exit Recorder