Species Details

ABH: 49.055

BF: 1018

Family: Tortricidae

Subfamily: Tortricinae

Taxon: Cnephasia communana

Authority: (Herrich-Schäffer, 1851)

Vernacular: Southern Grey Tortrix

Account: Local with a preference for dry pastures, downland and fens throughout England and Wales. The earliest Cnephasia to emerge and the only one on the wing during most of May, about the size of Grey Tortrix C. stephensiana and usually with a paler ground colour and paler brownish fascia, but like all Cnephasia, identification can only be confirmed by dissection of genitalia. Like its congeners, undoubtedly under-recorded. Reported from Totland, Isle of Wight in 2021 (and again in 2022), the first report from the island since the mid-20th century. Wingspan 18-22 mm. Larva feeds on various herbaceous plants, living within a spun or rolled leaf.

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: 18 — 22 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 2 May (2025) — 25 Jun (2010)

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

Foodplant: Polyphagous.

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: 4 — ️‼️Dissection required️‼️
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/cnephasia-communana/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 34

Individuals: 2

Earliest Year: 1997

Latest Year: 2025

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