Recent Status: An adventive in the UK that is now widely distributed. Common in Suffolk
Life Style: A double brooded species that flies at night and comes to light. It can be found in all but the coldest months. The larvae feed from a silken tube and are polyphagous, mostly vegetarian. The larvae hibernate. They pupate in a cocoon.
Identification: There are two common species of Blastobasis recorded in Suffolk. B. adustella is darker and smaller than B. lacticolella. Both species at rest from above show a broad forward pointing ‘V’ mark at one third, dots or patch at two thirds and a sub-terminal fascia. Blastobasis vittata was added to the Suffolk list in 2022. It is the smallest of the three and very variable seldom showing the ‘V’ mark of the common species.
Recorded in 51 (88%) of 58 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1959. Last Recorded in 2023. Additional Stats