Scrobipalpa costella

Scrobipalpa costella

Alternative names
Bittersweet Moth
Winter Groundling
Description

The colouration of this species varies a great deal but there is often a darker (sometimes triangular) mark midway along each wing.  The larva mines the leaves of Bittersweet, starting in the midrib and then causing dark blotches in the leaf blade beside the midrib or main vein.  They may aslo live freely on the leaf.

Similar Species

Acrolepia autumnitella also mines bittersweet, but the mines are larger and very transparent 

Identification difficulty

Adult leafmine

Recording advice

Backlit photo of mine; note host species

Habitat

Occurs in woodland, well wooded and damp areas where the larval foodplant Bittersweet is found.

When to see it

Emerges late in the season, from September onwards, and spends the winter as an adult. The adult flies at night and is attracted to light.

Life History

The larval foodplant is Bittersweet

UK Status

A fairly common species throughout much of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

VC55 Status

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = C (very scarce resident or rare migrant)

Reference
35.123 BF819

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