63.047 BF1404

Spoladea recurvalis

(Fabricius, 1775)

[Synonyms: Hymenia recurvalis]

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Wingspan c. 23mm.

A scarce autumn migrant from the tropics, this very distinctive species was first recorded in 1951 in Surrey. Since then there have been around a dozen records, mostly around the south coast, although the first record for Scotland was recorded by Don Smith on 30th October 2009.

The larva has not been recorded in Britain, but elsewhere it can become a pest of various crops such as beet (Beta, spinach (Spinacia) and maize (Zea) where it lives in a silken web on the leaves.