Species Details

ABH: 49.044

BF: 1025

Family: Tortricidae

Subfamily: Tortricinae

Taxon: Tortricodes alternella

Authority: ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Vernacular: Spring Harbinger

Account: Common, in deciduous woodland, especially of oak, throughout Britain One of the earliest Tortricids to emerge in Spring and unlikely to be confused with hibernating Tortricids which may be on the wing in early spring [Bradley]. Larva feeds on Oak, Hornbeam, Hazel, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Lime and Birch, living between leaves spun together with silk, and over-wintering as a pupa.

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: 19 — 23mm

Surrey Flight Period: 6 Jan (2019) — 30 Dec (2015)

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

Foodplant: Quercus sp. (an oak).

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/tortricodes-alternella/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 329

Individuals: 2363

Earliest Year: 1992

Latest Year: 2025

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