Tortricidae

49.350 Sainfoin Piercer Grapholita caecana Schläger, 1847

pRDB3

Similar species:

Forewing: 5.5 to 7.5mm

Habitats: Chalk downland and cliffs.

Habits: On sunny days the moth flies over the foodplant during the afternoon and early evening.

Foodplant: The larva feeds in the shoots and stems of Sainfoin. In October the full-fed larva spins a cocoon in the stem and overwinters until early June the following year when it pupates.

On the European mainland it is also recorded from Spiny Restharrow and Lucerne.