Species Details

ABH: 7.007

BF: 149

Family: Adelidae

Subfamily: Adelinae

Taxon: Adela cuprella

Authority: ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Vernacular: Sallow Longhorn

Account: Local on heaths, fens and woodland in southern Britain, as far north as Sutherland Adult males have a hairy black head and long white antennae, which are quite visible with binoculars, as they fly often in small groups with their characteristic dancing flight over the tops of male Salix bushes. Females have shorter dark antennae with a yellowish/orange head and come lower down to lay on the catkins. Larva feeds on fallen leaves under Sallow, living within a movable case, over-wintering twice.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 14 — 16 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 21 Mar (2009) — 26 Apr (2008)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Salix sp. (a sallow).

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Local

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 2 — Care needed to identify, an image may be required 🤔
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/adela-cuprella/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 20

Individuals: 48

Earliest Year: 2000

Latest Year: 2025

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