Photo © Paul Brock

Scythris empetrella

Checklist Number
43.009 [B&F: 0917]

Verification
Record will require further evidence, at least a good photograph, unless CMR is aware recorder has confidence in identification

Classification

Family:Scythrididae
Subfamily:Scythridinae
Genus:Scythris
Species:empetrella
Authority:Karsholt & Nielsen, 1976

Vulnerable (proposed as a future Red Data Book species) and restricted in the UK to sandy heathland in Dorset and Hampshire. In Hampshire reliably recorded only from heathland near Lyndhurst. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 8-10 mm. Best found by slowly sweeping the hand over carpets of the foodplant (MBGBI Vol 4 part 1). Larva feeds on Heather, Bell Heather and Cross-leaved Heath, living within a silken tube.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Lyndhurst (SU30)06/1834-Anon-
Hengistbury Head (SZ19)05/05/1999fivePhil SterlingLarval
Lyndhurst (SU30)09/05/2000-David G Green & Mark ParsonsLarval
Sopley Common (SZ19)13/05/2000-Phil SterlingLarval
Lyndhurst (SU30)07/05/2006-David G GreenLarval
Lyndhurst (SU30)07/05/201330Mark ParsonsLarval
Lyndhurst (SU30)18/05/2014oneTim Norriss, Lynn FomisonLarval tube
Parc Pale (SU30)05/05/2016fourPaul D BrockLarval
Parc Pale (SU30)07/11/2016onePaul D BrockAdult