Glyphipterigidae

19.013 Ruscus Moth Acrolepiopsis marcidella (Curtis, 1850)

pRDB3

Similar species:

Forewing: 6 to 7mm

Habitats: Deciduous woodland.

Habits: The moth sometimes rests on a cladode (a leaf-like flattened stem part) of the foodplant. There were only 19th Century records until one was recorded in 1986. In 1997 it was rediscovered in Dorset and has since then been found in Hampshire.

Foodplant: The larva mines the bark, cladodes and then the fruit of Butcher's-broom. Infected fruit are variegated red-green. It pupates on a stem or cladode low on the plant.