39.003 BF904

Spuleria flavicaput

(Haworth, 1828)

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Wingspan c.13 mm.

Distributed over much of England and Wales, into southern Scotland and parts of Ireland, this charcoal-grey species has a distinct yellow head, giving rise to its scientific name flavicaput. There are two sets of raised scale-tufts on the forewings, which can sometimes be hard to see.

The moths are diurnal and fly during the mornings in May and June around hedges of the larval foodplant, hawthorn (Crataegus).

The larvae feed from about August to October by mining into the twigs, but are difficult to detect except for the existence of an exit hole close to a fork.