Grapholita internana
Grapholita internana
Dark Gorse Piercer
Wingspan 9 to 10 mm.
Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required. If the photo doesn't show the key ID features then in the comments box describe the size and identifying characters you have observed. If recorded on, or near to, Gorse please state this in your record.
Areas with plenty of Gorse.
Flying between April and June, the males in particular can be observed around gorse bushes during the day, where their whitish hindwings are quite noticeable. The females are less active and have dusky hindwings.
The foodplant is gorse (Ulex europaeus), and the larvae live inside the seedpods feeding on the seeds.
Distributed widely but locally throughout Britain, this moth is generally more frequent in the southern counties. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Rarely recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

