Gelechiidae

35.120 Thyme Moth Scrobipalpa artemisiella (Treitschke, 1833)

Notable B

Similar species:

Forewing: 5 to 6mm

Habitats: Short-turfed coastal sand-dunes, machair, sea cliffs, limestone grassland, short-turfed heathland and also upland areas.

Habits: The moth is easily disturbed in sunshine. It flies from dusk and occasionally comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva makes a small, full depth blotch mine in the young leaves of Wild Thyme. It later feeds from a silk web on the underside of a stem. It pupates between spun leaves. On the European mainland it is also recorded as feeding on Large Thyme and Breckland Thyme.