Tortricidae

49.347 Meadow Tortrix Grapholita compositella (Fabricius, 1775)

Common

Similar species:

Forewing: 4 to 4.5mm

Habitats: Rough grassland, calcareous grassland, meadows, embankments, sand-dunes and open woodland.

Habits: The male flies over clover on calm, sunny afternoons. The females fly at sunset. It occasionally comes to light.

Foodplant: The first generation larva feeds in the stems of Red Clover, White Clover and probably other clovers. The second generation larva feeds in the spun terminal leaves, flower-heads or pods, then overwinters full-fed in an off-white cocoon in the leaf litter, where it pupates in April.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded from Bird's-foot Trefoil and Lucerne.