Tortricidae

49.033 Bilberry Tortrix Aphelia viburniana ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Common

Similar species:

Forewing: 8 to 11mm

Habitats: Moorland, heathland, bogs and mosses, coastal chalk grassland and salt-marsh.

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

Foodplant: The young polyphagous larva eat the upper surface of the leaves on the shoots of Bilberry and Cowberry, causing them to turn brown. It later feeds from within spun leaves and flower-heads. Other foodplants are heaths, Bog Myrtle, sallows, Sea Lavender, Sea Aster, Sea Wormwood, Wood Sage, Wild Parsnip, Spiraea, honeysuckles, Ox-eye Daisy, cinquefoils, loosestrifes, knapweeds, Mountain Avens, Bloody Crane's-bill and Meadow-sweet. It occasionally feeds on conifers. It pupates in a white silk cocoon in the larval habitation.