39.001 BF905

Blastodacna hellerella

(Duponchel, 1838)

Wingspan 11 mm.

A fairly distinctive moth which occurs throughout England and parts of Scotland.

The dark forms shown from Lancashire were originally believed to be B. atra, but now are thought to be simply dark forms of hellerella.

The moth is to be found in woodland margins, parks and gardens, where hawthorn Crataegus is to be found. The larvae burrow into the berries.

The adult is nocturnal, and flies during June and July, when it can be attracted by light.