Species Details

ABH: 28.024

BF: 656

Family: Oecophoridae

Subfamily: Oecophorinae

Taxon: Tachystola acroxantha

Authority: (Meyrick, 1885)

Vernacular: Australian Orange-tip

Account: Naturalised and increasing, through accidental introduction in garden plants from Australia, throughout much of southern England, north to Lancashire; until recently only known from south-west England, this is a species which appears to have undergone a rapid range expansion. Since 1997, recorded frequently in Fleet, and since 2002 increasingly common along the south coast. Wingspan 13-18mm. The pinkish orange termen make this an unmistakable species. Larva feeds on fallen leaves and leaf litter. The pRDB3 status often indicated for this species is a misnomer and should be ignored.

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 — 18mm

Surrey Flight Period: 1 Jan (2024) — 30 Dec (2015)

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

Foodplant:

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: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/tachystola-acroxantha/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 681

Individuals: 1931

Earliest Year: 2006

Latest Year: 2025

« Previous Random 🎲 Next »