Tortricidae

49.349 White-underwing Piercer Grapholita internana (Guenée, 1845)

Local

Similar species: Grapholita pallifrontana

Forewing: 4.5 to 5.5mm

Habitats: Heathland, moorland, quarries and coastal grassland with scrub.

Habits: The male flies around gorse bushes for most of the day in sunny weather. It can be distinguished in flight from the accompanying Cydia ulicitana by its white underwings.

Foodplant: The larva lives in the pods of Common Gorse feeding on the developing seeds. In early September the full-fed larva spins a cocoon in the pod or amongst the needles where it overwinters until it pupates in March.