Moth name search:
UKMoths: your guide to the moths of Great Britain and Ireland
Adult
View larger image
Enteucha acetosae (Adult)

Grimes Graves, East Anglia, ex. mine.

(Photo © Ian Barton)

More images

Adult
Adult
Mines in Rumex
Mines on Rumex
Show Map

118 Enteucha acetosae

(Stainton, 1854)

Wingspan 3-4 mm.

One of the world's smallest moths; some examples having a wingspan of only 3mm!

There are two or three generations in the British Isles, with adults on the wing between April and July and larvae feeding between May and October. The moths have brassy inner forewings, a silvery fascia and purplish beyond.

The larval mine is very distinctive. Feeding on sheep's sorrel (Rumex acetosella) or common sorrel (R. acetosae), the larva mines in a tight spiral, which turns bright red, and later moves away in an irregular gallery.