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Aethes cnicana
Thistle Straw (Westwood, 1854)
Tortricidae: Tortricinae
945 / 49.127
Photo © Raymond A Watson,  Hollesley, Suffolk.

Similar Suffolk Species
Burdock Straw
Aethes rubigana
Common Marbled Straw
Aethes smeathmanniana
Wingspan: 14-17 mm.
Flight: June - August.
Foodplant:   Thistles.
Nat Status: Common
Verification Grade:  Adult: 2

Morley’s Final Catalogue: Found among thistles at Benacre and Kessingland (Ctw) Gorleston in May 1934 (D); Thetford (Williams).

Recent Status: Found across Suffolk with a preference for wetland locations

Life Style: Single brooded in mid-summer. Flies in the evening and night and comes to light during May, June and July. The larvae feed on Cirsium thistle seeds and later in the stem where it hibernates.

Identification: A glossy pale ochre with a dark dorsal blotch at around a third reaching two thirds to the costa. There is a less clearly defined costal mark to match and three less clear blotches from pre-tornus across to the costa. The two costal marks may extend a suffusion towards the dorsum. The costa is darkened at the base. The species is very similar to A. rubigana which flies a little later but the flight periods overlap. There is a difference in the shape of the dorsal blotches between the two species and the three blotches beyond are more clearly defined in A. rubigana.

Recorded in 36 (62%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1934.
Last Recorded in 2023.

Latest 5 Records
Date#VC10k Area
27/07/2023225TM49 - Somerleyton/Beccles
25/07/2023125TM28 - Mendham
21/07/2023126TL95 - Bradfield/Hitcham
18/07/2023725TM59 - Lowestoft
16/07/2023125TG40 - Belton/Burgh Castle
Further info: Aethes cnicana
 
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