Species Details

ABH: 17.008

BF: 458

Family: Ypsolophidae

Subfamily: Ypsolophinae

Taxon: Ypsolopha alpella

Authority: ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Vernacular: Short-barred Ochre

Account: Local in oak woodland throughout much of southern England and southern Wales, north to Yorkshire. Fairly frequent in south Hampshire, but uncommon in north Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 14-18 mm. The main confusion species are Y. lucella, from which Y. alpella can be distinguished by the thorax being concolorous with the base of the forewing, and by the presence of fasciae, although on worn specimens these can be inconspicuous; and Y. sylvella from which Y. alpella can be distinguished by its smaller and less conspicuous fasciae, and by the paler ground colour of its forewing (MBGBI Vol 3). Larva feeds on Oak, beneath a silken web, over-wintering as an egg.

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: 14 — 18 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 27 Jun (2023) — 27 Sep (2010)

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: Local

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/ypsolopha-alpella/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 56

Individuals: 42

Earliest Year: 1999

Latest Year: 2024

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