Morley’s Final Catalogue: Rare and local everywhere in Britain. Hacheston CHkr); West Stow (Wrt); Brandon (Wrn). Not observed here since 1890 till taken on oak-trunk in Bentley Woods on 24 March 1934 (Mly, Trans, ii, p. clii) and bred thence in 1934-5 (Whit).

Recent Status: Formerly rare in Suffolk, possibly under-recorded. Since 2021 the use of pheromone lures has in fact revealed that this moth is much more widespread in the county.

Life Style: The moth is single brooded flying during in March, April and May. They fly by day and come to light. The larvae feed as inquilines in ‘oak-apple’ galls, feeding on the spongy material. They pupate in a cocoon in a variety of locations.

Identification: This is one of the earliest of the Olethreutinae to appear in Spring. The moth has noticeably elongate forewings and white, dark bordered hindwings. The forewings are dark with a complex patterning. The dorsal blotch is obscure but marked by the basal edge. The timing and appearance make confusion species unlikely.

Recorded in 30 (52%) of 58 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1934. Last Recorded in 2023. Additional Stats

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