Metalampra italica

Metalampra italica

Alternative names
Italian Bark Moth
Italian Tubic
Description

Wingspan about 12 to 14 mm.  The adults are quite distinctive with a golden brown ground colour and paler markings.

Similar Species

Metalampra cinnamomea which has so far not been recorded locally is similar, but has a darker ground colour in the forewing.

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Good supporting image(s) required please.

Habitat

Formerly only encountered as a migrant but now believed to be breeding in parts of the UK. It is associated with Oak.

When to see it

June to August or September.

Life History

The larvae feed in the dead or decaying wood of oak.

UK Status

This species was encountered in Britain for the first time in 2003, in Devon. Since then it has been found in at least a dozen counties in the south of England and Wales, and is now believed to be a breeding resident and spreading rapidly. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as migrant colonist.

VC55 Status

Rare in Leicestershire and Rutland, but may be spreading into our area.

Reference
28.008 BF642a

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records