Species Details

ABH: 35.123

BF: 819

Family: Gelechiidae

Subfamily: Gelechiinae

Taxon: Scrobipalpa costella

Authority: (Humphreys & Westwood, 1845)

Vernacular: Bittersweet Moth

Account: Common in a wide range of habitats, from hedgerows, damp woodland and gardens to shingle beaches, throughout Britain, but less numerous in the north. Quite variable in appearance, but the general pattern is discernible on even the darkest individuals. Larva mines leaves of Woody Nightshade.

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: 19 Jan (2004) — 17 Nov (2009)

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

Foodplant: Solanum dulcamara (Bittersweet).

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

Status: Common

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/scrobipalpa-costella/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 52

Individuals: 17

Earliest Year: 1997

Latest Year: 2025

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