20.005 [B&F: 0409a] Argyresthia trifasciata Staudinger, 1871 - Local

Local in gardens throughout much of Greater London and southern England, with records north to Lancashire. An adventive species, naturalised through accidental introduction in conifers from mainland Europe, now fully naturalised. In Hampshire first recorded in the county in 1998 in the north-east, from where it now appears to be spreading. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 8-9 mm. Larva mines leaves and shoots of Juniper, Leyland Cypress, Lawson's Cypress, and other cultivated conifers.

Record Details

VC11: Romsey, four, 11 May (MJB); one, 14 May; one, 23 Jun (NRJ); Waterlooville, one, 14 May; one, field obs., 21 May; one, 31 May (DWhe); Hurn, one, 22 Jun (MJef); Christchurch: Cross Way, one, 07 May; one, 16 May; one, 20 May (LPyk); Sway, one, 12 May; one, 03 Jun (SKee);

VC12: North Waltham, one, 29 May (AJon); Basingstoke, one, 02 Jun (MJW); Whitehill, Bordon, one, 10 May; one, 16 May; one, 23 May (ASto); Hammer Vale, Woolmer, one, 20 May (ASwa)

20.007 [B&F: 0409b] Cypress Tip Moth Argyresthia cupressella Walsingham, 1890 - Local

Local in gardens throughout East Anglia, and northern and western England. An adventive species, recorded nationally for the first time in 1997 in Suffolk, the Cypress Tip Moth is now fully naturalised following its accidental introduction on coniferous trees. Has been recorded increasingly in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 8-9 mm. Larva mines young shoots of Juniper, Leyland Cypress and Lawson's Cypress.

Record Details

VC10: Freshwater, one, 04 Jul (PBard); Parkhurst Forest, mine, present, many tenanted mines in Cupressus sp., close to Tuckers Gate at start of footpath N160 (SZ 4731 8966), 03 Nov; Shanklin, one, 23 Jul; one, 03 Sep (IOu);

VC11: Romsey, one, 03 Jun (MJB); one, 02 Jun; two, 03 Jun (NRJ); Swaythling, Southampton, one, 19 Jul (MEdg); West End, four, 03 Jun (AMD); Thornhill, Southampton, one, field obs., 03 Jun (PAB); Stubbington, one, 11 May; one, 17 May; one, 26 May; three, 03 Jun; one, 17 Jun (DPH); Funtley, one, 18 May (TDC); Portsmouth, one, 03 Jun (IRT); Waterlooville, one, 14 May; one, 07 Jun; one, 15 Jun; one, 23 Jun; one, 28 Jun; one, 30 Jul (DWhe); Moordown, Bournemouth, one, field obs., 07 Jun (ACoo); Christchurch: Cross Way, one, 15 May; one, 24 May; one, 30 May; two, 07 Jun; one, 25 Jun (LPyk); Tuckton, Bournemouth, two, 03 Jun; Christchurch, one, 11 May; Tuckton, Christchurch, one, 29 Jun (APard); Burton, nr Christchurch, one, 17 May (JStw); New Milton, one, field obs., 21 May; Sway, one, 18 May; one, 26 May; one, 27 May; two, 03 Jun; one, 22 Jun; one, 23 Jun; one, 24 Jun; one, 25 Jun; one, 26 Jun (SKee);

VC12: Whitehill, Bordon, one, 03 Jun (ASto); Hammer Vale, Woolmer, one, 09 Aug (ASwa); Farnborough, one, 25 Jun (KBW)

20.008 [B&F: 0406] Argyresthia abdominalis Zeller, 1839 - pRDB2

Vulnerable (proposed as a future Red Data Book species). Chiefly recorded from the Chilterns and the downs of southern England, where the foodplant is present, but evidently in decline. In Hampshire last recorded in the 1980s from Stockbridge Down and Leckford. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 7-9 mm. Larva mines leaves and bark of Juniper.

Record Details

VC12: Cholderton, one, 26 Jul (TJN)

20.011 [B&F: 0410] Argyresthia brockeella (Hübner, [1813]) - Common

Common in open, especially birch, woodland and freshwater margins throughout the British Isles. Widespread and common in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 10-12 mm. Variable, but only the scarce unicolorous form problematic, being similar to the unicolorous form of A. goedartella, but a deeper, darker colour than A. goedartella. Flies in afternoon sunshine and at night. Larva mines young shoots and catkins of Silver and Downy Birch, and Alder.

Record Details

VC10: Freshwater, one, 29 Jun; one, 02 Jul (PBard); Speedwell, Cranmore, NF, one, 18 Jun (AMD); Shanklin, one, 24 Jun; Osborne Wood, 12, 01 Jul; two, 28 Jul (IOu);

VC11: Poulnor, NF, present, field obs., , 11 Jun (ASho); Marchwood, one, 11 Jul (CTha); Romsey, two, 16 May; one, 01 Jun; one, 07 Jun; one, 04 Jul; one, 07 Jul (NRJ); Itchen Valley C.P., four, 19 Jul (F.M.G.); Wildern LNR, Hedge End, one, field obs., 07 Jun (TCrw); West Wood, Farley Mount CP, one, netted, 16 Jul (AMD); Allbrook, one, 03 Jun; one, 20 Jun (SIng); Weeke, Winchester, one, field obs., 03 Jul (HuWoo); Fareham, one, 26 Jun (ADT); Alver Valley CP, one, field obs., 02 Jul (IHrg); Fareham, one, 28 Jun (MLO); Pigeon House Coppice, Boarhunt, one, 12 Jul (F.M.G.); Flagpond Copse, Wickham, one, field obs., 01 Jun (DPH); Bishop's Waltham, one, field obs., 14 Jun (DTru); Wickham, one, 18 Jun; one, 26 Jun (JRDS); Portchester, one, 03 Jul (CEH, JGS); Waterlooville, one, 07 May; one, 14 May; two, 29 May; one, 31 May; two, 02 Jun; two, 15 Jun; six, 23 Jun; four, 25 Jun; one, 28 Jun; two, 30 Jun; one, 02 Jul; one, 10 Jul; three, 30 Jul; one, 01 Aug (DWhe); Southleigh Forest, one, swept, plus another seen. Sample 4: sweeping, etc., 19 Jun (MGT); Merritown Heath, one, 29 Jun (DFoo); Christchurch: Cross Way, one, 14 Jul (LPyk); Hengistbury Head, one, 30 Jul (MJef); Burton, nr Christchurch, one, 30 Jun; one, 03 Jul (JStw); #REF!#REF!Sway, one, 13 Jul (SKee);

VC12: Anna Valley, Andover, one, 25 Jun (TJN); Magdalen Hill Down NR, present, several, 19 Jul (AMD); Great Haughurst Copse, Axmansford, two, 26 Jun; two, 10 Aug (ACB); Shortheath Common, Oakhanger, present, netted, 17 Jul (AMD); Ludshott Common, one, 29 Jul (KBW, HthRT det. KBW); Hammer Vale, Woolmer, one, 13 Aug (ASwa); Fleet Pond: Fugelmere Marsh, one, 04 Jul (MHals)

20.012 [B&F: 0411] Argyresthia goedartella (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common

Common in open woodland, heathland, gardens and freshwater margins throughout the British Isles. Widespread and common in Hampshire but apparently rarer on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 10-12 mm. Generally a fairly distinctive species, but variable, with plain forms difficult to distinguish from plain forms of A. brockeella, which see. Larva mines young shoots and catkins of Silver and Downy Birch, and Alder.

Record Summary

VC10: Earliest: Osborne Wood, 28 Jul, 1 (IOu) Latest: Shanklin, 30 Jul, 1 (IOu) Max count: Shanklin, 30 Jul, 1 (IOu)

VC11: Earliest: Waterlooville, 22 May, 1 (DWhe) Latest: Fareham, 19 Sep, 1 (MLO) Max count: New Milton, 31 Jul, 12 (SKee)

VC12: Earliest: Inhams Copse, Pamber, 01 Jul, 1 (GJD) Latest: Inhams Copse, Pamber, 18 Sep, 1 (GJD) Max count: Inhams Copse, Pamber, 12 Aug, 56 (GJD)

20.015 [B&F: 0414] Argyresthia curvella (Linnaeus, 1761) - Local

Local in gardens and orchards throughout England and Wales, extending to Perthshire and the Western Isles in Scotland (MBGBI Vol 3). In Hampshire rather uncommon, given its reputation as a pest in orchards, but perhaps under-recorded: the first records for the Isle of Wight since 1925 were reported in 2022. Wingspan 10-12 mm. Similar to A. sorbiella, from which it is distinguished by its smaller size and the colour of the markings which are almost greyish brown on a clear white ground colour (MBGBI Vol 3). Larva mines buds and shoots of Apple, causing sufficient damage to be a serious pest in some areas, over-wintering as an egg.

Record Details

VC12: Great Haughurst Copse, Axmansford, one, 31 Aug (ACB)

20.016 [B&F: 0415] Argyresthia retinella Zeller, 1839 - Common

Common in open woodland throughout the British Isles. Reasonably common in Hampshire, but rarely record on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 9-10 mm. Flies in afternoon sunshine and at night. Characterised by white forewing, irregularly strigulate dark brown; a diffuse brownish streak from base to disc beneath subcostal vein; a large diffuse dark brown spot in disc; a diffuse terminal streak; apical dot blackish brown (MBGBI Vol 3). Larva mines the shoots and catkins of Birch.

Record Details

VC10: Osborne Wood, one, gen det 05 July. Signum narrow, without the wings of sorbiella or curvella. Second IW record, the last was from Firestone Copse in 1978, 01 Jul (IOu);

VC11: Alver Valley CP, one, field obs., 08 Jul (IHrg); Merritown Heath, one, 29 Jun (DFoo);

VC12: Magdalen Hill Down NR, one, 23 Jun (AMD); North Waltham, one, 25 Jun (AJon); Inhams Copse, Pamber, three, 26 Jun; one, 01 Jul; one, 16 Jul (GJD); Farnborough, one, 25 Jun (KBW)

20.017 [B&F: 0416] Argyresthia glaucinella Zeller, 1839 - Local

Local in open woodland, especially of oak, throughout Britain and southern Ireland. Fairly widespread in southern Hampshire and perhaps under-recorded in northern Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 8-10 mm. The larval workings more easily found than the adult, which closely resembles A. spinosella, and which can often only be reliably separated by dissection of genitalia, although A. glaucinella is slightly smaller and has different habitat requirements. Larva mines bark of Oak.

Record Details

VC11: Sway, one, 10 Jul; one, 30 Jul (SKee)

20.018 [B&F: 0417] Argyresthia spinosella Stainton, 1849 - Common

Common in hedgerows throughout much of the British Isles, except for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. In Hampshire most frequent in the south-east of the county, with scattered records elsewhere and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 9-11 mm. The main confusion species are Apple Fruit Moth A. conjugella and A. semifusca, which see. Larva mines buds and shoots of Blackthorn, over-wintering as an egg.

Record Details

VC10: Speedwell, Cranmore, NF, one, 18 Jun (AMD);

VC11: Funtley, one, 29 May (TDC); Hengistbury Head, four, 03 Jun (MJef)

20.019 [B&F: 0418] Apple Fruit Moth Argyresthia conjugella Zeller, 1839 - Common

Common in orchards and woodland throughout the British Isles, more numerous in the north. Rather uncommon in Hampshire. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 10-14 mm. Day-flying, but may come to light. Similar species include A. spinosella, from which A. conjugella is distinguished by the ochreous tinge of its ground colour, slightly larger size and later flight time; and A. semifusca from which A. conjugella is distinguished by its more marbled markings and ochreous ground colour. Larva mines fruit and berries of Apple and Rowan, causing sufficient damage to be a serious pest in some area, and over-wintering as a pupa in a cocoon.

Record Details

VC11: West End, one, 25 Jun (AMD)

20.020 [B&F: 0419] Argyresthia semifusca (Haworth, 1828) - Common

Common in open woodland and hedgerows throughout the British Isles, less numerous in the south. In Hampshire it has perhaps been under-recorded in the past, but not uncommon in the north-east of the county. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 10-13 mm. Main confusion species are Apple Fruit Moth A. conjugella, which is generally more ochreous and marbled, and A. spinosella, from which A. semifusca distinguished only with certainty by dissection of the genitalia. Larva mines shoots of Rowan and, in the south of Britain, predominately Hawthorn.

Record Details

VC11: Waterlooville, one, 26 Aug (DWhe); Sway, one, 01 Sep (SKee)

20.021 [B&F: 0420] Cherry Fruit Moth Argyresthia pruniella (Clerck, 1759) - Common

Common in gardens, woodland and orchards throughout the British Isles. Fairly well distributed in Hampshire, but recorded very infrequently on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 10-12 mm. The main confusion species is A. bonnetella, which see for differences. Larva mines shoots and fruits of Cherry, including wild, ornamental and cultivated varieties, causing sufficient damage to be a serious pest in some areas, and over-wintering as an egg or small larva.

Record Details

VC10: Shanklin, two, 31 Jul (IOu);

VC11: Marchwood, one, 29 Jul (TDCh); Romsey, one, 30 Jul (SRC); one, 26 Aug (NRJ); Waterlooville, one, 13 Aug; one, 26 Aug; one, 27 Aug; one, 08 Sep; one, 15 Sep (DWhe); Christchurch: Cross Way, one, 26 Jun; two, 30 Jul (LPyk); Christchurch, one, 29 Jun; two, 30 Jul (APard);

VC12: Morn Hill, Winchester, one, 27 Aug (CRB, PDF, DAS, LHur); Winklebury, Basingstoke, present, field obs., , 01 Aug; Basingstoke, one, 31 Jul (MJW)

Basingstoke
31/07/2024
MV light trap
Mike Wall
Photo © Mike Wall

20.022 [B&F: 0421] Argyresthia bonnetella (Linnaeus, 1758) - Common

Common wherever the foodplant occurs, in hedgerows, gardens, downland and scrub throughout the British Isles. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 9-11 mm. The main confusion species is Cherry Fruit Moth A. pruniella — both species show a pale dorsal streak, but differ in the angle made by the prominent brown fascia — in both species the fascia starts from mid-way along the dorsum, but the angle between the fascia and the dorsum is about 45° in A. pruniella and 30° in A. bonnetella. Larva mines bark of Hawthorn.

Record Details

VC10: Shanklin, two, 29 Jul (IOu);

VC11: Pigeon House Coppice, Boarhunt, one, 12 Jul (F.M.G.);

VC12: Inhams Copse, Pamber, one, 31 Jul (GJD)

20.023 [B&F: 0422] Argyresthia albistria (Haworth, 1828) - Common

Common in hedgerows and scrub throughout the British Isles. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 9-11 mm. Occurs in two forms, a unicolorous form, which is similar to the unicolorous form of Apple Fruit Moth A. conjugella, but with head white in A. albistria, and the nominate form, which is similar to A. semifusca, but smaller and brighter. Larva mines flowering shoots of Blackthorn, over-wintering as a small larva.

Record Details

VC10: Shanklin, one, 24 Jul (IOu);

VC11: Linford Bottom, two, 05 Aug (CLew); Romsey, one, 08 Aug; one, 01 Sep (NRJ); Allbrook, one, 11 Aug (SIng); Alver Valley CP, one, field obs., 02 Jul (IHrg); Fareham, one, 02 Sep (MLO); Waterlooville, one, 27 Aug (DWhe); Old Winchester Hill, one, 30 Aug (F.M.G.);

VC12: Cholderton, two, 26 Jul (TJN); Morn Hill, Winchester, one, 27 Aug (CRB, PDF, DAS, LHur); Inhams Copse, Pamber, one, 12 Aug (GJD); Hammer Vale, Woolmer, one, 20 Jul (ASwa)

20.024 [B&F: 0423] Argyresthia semitestacella (Curtis, 1833) - Local

Local in deciduous woodland throughout the British Isles. Fairly widely distributed, but decidedly uncommon, in southern Hampshire, with the very few records in north Hampshire and Isle of Wight. Wingspan 11-14 mm. Usually recognisable by its large size and occurrence late in the year (MBGBI Vol 3), also the white dorsal streak is not interrupted mid-way, as is the case with A. albistria. Larva mines shoots of Beech.

Record Details

VC11: Romsey, one, 01 Sep; present, 02 Sep (SRC);

VC12: Cholderton, one, 28 Oct (TJN)