Gelechiidae

35.010 Vetch Moth Aproaerema anthyllidella (Hübner, [1813])

Local

Similar species:

Forewing: 5 to 6mm

Habitats: Dry grassland, downland and old quarries.

Habits: The moth flies from late afternoon and later comes to light.

Foodplant: In the spring the young larva mines a small full depth white blotch on Kidney Vetch, which may cause the leaf to roll inwards. The older larvae feed among spun leaves, but still make short mines by feeding on the leaf tissue from small openings. The summer larva on Kidney Vetch feeds on the flowers and pods, others on restharrow feed on spun leaves. Other foodplants are clovers and recorded in the spring only; Sainfoin and Lucerne. It pupates in a flimsy cocoon on the foodplant or in the leaf litter.