Gelechiidae

35.118 Beet Moth Scrobipalpa ocellatella (Boyd, 1858)

Notable B

Similar species: The forewing varies in the shade of the trailing edge.

Forewing: 5 to 7mm

Habitats: Coastal shingle and the inner side of salt-marsh, preferring plants in the open. During 2022 there was a massive move inland throughout the south of the UK.

Habits:The moth flies around the foodplant. It comes to light.

Foodplant: The young larva mines an irregular blotch on a leaf of Sea Beet. It later feeds in the stems and central buds and on the leaves and flowers from an untidy spinning. It pupates in a flimsy cocoon amongst debris on the ground. On the European mainland it is a serious pest on Sugar Beet and Beetroot crops.