Morley’s Final Catalogue: Locally quite common in marshes. Freston (Freeman); Needham ( L ) ; Hemley in 1901-7 (Wir); Leiston (Hkr), Benacre (Mly), Covehithe (Gd), Lowestoft (Bd); rare in Beiton bog in July (Paget 1834); flew abundantly to light at Fritton Lake in August 1833-7 (Mly, D). One at light in Tuddenham (Vivian); occurs in all the reed-beds near Timworth (Nurse 1911).

Recent Status: A species common in the southern and eastern parts of Britain It is well recorded across the county. Its association with wetland habitats is reflected in the distribution.

Life Style: A single brooded species flying during summer and coming to light. The larvae feed on Glyceria maxima and Phragmites australis. They feed inside stems and roots where they pupate and emerge from an exit hole in a stem cut by the larva before pupation. Larvae pass the winter.

Identification: Chilo phragmitella is a large crambid species with very long forward pointing palps that is sexually dimorphic. Both sexes have a small black discal spot. Males are smaller than females and usually darker with a paler area along the dorsum. The apex is acute but not strikingly so. The male hindwing is light brown to off white. The females are larger and paler with pure white hindwings. They have a notably acute apex and the costa at a point level with the discal spot towards the apex is slightly concave. This character enables them to be separated from Schoenobius gigantella which is a possible confusion species. Their size distinguishes them from Donacaula species.

Recorded in 43 (74%) of 58 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1833. Last Recorded in 2024. Additional Stats

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