Species Details

ABH: 15.018

BF: 292

Family: Gracillariidae

Subfamily: Gracillariinae

Taxon: Povolnya leucapennella

=Caloptilia sulphurella

Authority: (Stephens, 1835)

Vernacular: Scarce Oak Stilt

Account: Nationally scarce (Nb) in oak woodland throughout much of Britain and Ireland. Rather uncommon in south Hampshire and very rare in the north and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 12-14 mm. Very variable, from pale yellowish white to reddish, and some forms are only separable from other similar Caloptilia species by dissection of the genitalia; however, the more common form is off white with darker spots, and this is distinctive. The mines on oak are very rarely reported; the few reports we have relate to adults taken at light or beaten from scrub.

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: 12 — 14 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 11 Jan (2011) — 17 Oct (2025)

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

Foodplant: Quercus ilex (Evergreen Oak), Quercus sp. (an oak).

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

Status: None

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/povolnya-leucapennella/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 11

Individuals: 4

Earliest Year: 2007

Latest Year: 2025

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