Species Details

ABH: 35.025

BF: 851

Family: Gelechiidae

Subfamily: Dichomeridinae

Taxon: Dichomeris alacella

Authority: (Zeller, 1839)

Vernacular: Black-spotted Snout

Account: A local species in a wide range of habitats throughout south-eastern England, north to Yorkshire and west to Herefordshire A relatively distinctive insect which when fresh should be identifiable without recourse to collection: the patterning of the scale tufts, and pale costal spots at 3/4 are diagnostic. Larva feeds on lichens growing on tree trunks and wooden fences.

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: 13 — 14 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 30 Jun (2024) — 3 Aug (2024)

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

Foodplant: Lichenes.

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

Status: Nationally Scarce B

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 3 — Difficult to identify, an image may be required 🤔🤔
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/dichomeris-alacella/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 5

Individuals: 2

Earliest Year: 2007

Latest Year: 2024

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