Photo © Keith Tailby

Gymnancyla canella

Checklist Number
62.043 [B&F: 1464]

Verification
Record will be accepted (subject to date and location checks)

Classification

Family:Pyralidae
Subfamily:Phycitinae
Genus:Gymnancyla
Species:canella
Authority:([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Nationally scarce (Na) on sandy beaches by the sea from Sussex to Dorset. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight the foodplant is local and uncommon and the moth has occurred only sporadically along the Solent coast of both counties, in the Christchurch area, Pennington, Freshwater, St Helens and Hayling. Wingspan 22-25 mm. This species bears some resemblance to a Homoeosoma or Phycitodes, but may be distinguished at once by the long, porrected labial palpi which in the other genera are shorter and ascending [Goater]. Larva feeds within stems of Prickly Saltwort, over-wintering as a pupa.

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)

No Larval records to show.

VC10 Isle of Wight

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Freshwater (SZ38)1955-Sam Knill-JonesAdult
St Helens (SZ68)26/07/1994onePeter Cramp, Sam Knill-Jones & Brian WarneAdult
St Helens (SZ68)24/07/1995threeS R Colenutt & J C CrampAdult

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Hengistbury Head (SZ19)11/06/1997oneMike JeffesAdult
Sandy Point (SZ79)20/07/2006oneAndy JohnsonAdult
Pennington (SZ39)14/08/2013oneRichard CoomberAdult
Tuckton, Bournemouth (SZ19)14/06/2020oneAnn PardyAdult