62.008 BF1446

Salebriopsis albicilla

(Herrich-Schäffer, 1849)

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Wingspan c. 20mm.

A rare and very localised species in Britain, only recorded from parts of western England and South Wales. The species occupies woodland where the foodplant, small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata) grows. It was first discovered here as recently as 1964.

The species is rather plain in appearance, but the males have a distinctive whitish head and base to the antennae.

Adult moths fly in June and July. The larvae feed in rolled leaves of small-leaved lime (T. cordata), although abroad they are known to feed on a number of other plants including sallow (Salix).