Morley’s Final Catalogue: Quite a common species round Ipswich and Gorleston, at Dennington, light at Monks Soham, and sometimes at sugar. Barrett has taken the Var. phceoleuca, Stn,. at Brandon before 1890.

Recent Status: A common species in Britain and across the county.

Life Style: A single brooded species flying during summer with a peak in July. The larvae feed on mosses usually growing above ground. They feed from silk galleries mostly during winter and spring and pupate beneath the moss.

Identification: The Scopariinae (Scoparia and Eudonia) can be difficult to identify. Some species are easier than others. Before considering wing markings it is important to note the size, the shape when at rest and the forewing shape. All forewing markings can be important but of particular importance are the white sub-terminal markings, the post median line and the stigmata. They possess orbicular, claviform and reniform stigmata. Worn individuals might not be identified except by genitalia dissection.
Eudonia mercurella is smaller medium sized scopariid with a triangular shape at rest which is not so widely triangular as the possibly similar E. lacustrata. E. mercurella does not normally show pale spots within the stigmata. The sub-terminal line deviates from the termen centrally usually reaching the post median line resulting is a clearly evident white ‘x’ centrally in the wing there. The reniform stigma is usually an irregular black ‘x’.

Recorded in 48 (83%) of 58 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1965. Last Recorded in 2023. Additional Stats

Exit Recorder