Gelechiidae

35.114 Purslane Moth Scrobipalpa instabilella (Douglas, 1846)

Notable B

Similar species:

Forewing: 5.5 to 6.5mm

Habitats: Salt-marsh and tidal river-banks.

Habits: The moth is easily disturbed in sunshine. It comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on Sea-purslane and on one confirmed occasion on Duke of Argyl's Tea-plant. On Sea-purslane it forms a large inflated blotch mine with a small hole to eject frass. The larva may leave its mine and start another or it may spin together an untidy bunch of leaves which turn grey. It pupates in the spinning or on the ground in a soil-covered cocoon. Other foodplants that have not been confirmed are Sea Aster, Grass-leaved Orache, Common Glasswort and Buck's-horn Plantain.