Clover Seed Moth (Grapholita compositella)
This attrective Tortricid is known as the Triple-stripe Piecer, which is a little odd given it clearly sports four stripes, not three?
If you look really closely at the rear of the wings. it also has a leaden metallic patch, or ocellus, on each one.
A bivoltine moth with flight periods of May & June and again in late July and August, the larvae live in both the younger parts of hollow stems and among spun leaves, feeding in the seed-pods of Clover.
Very scattered and local across the UK, usually appearing singly. In Sussex there are few records and numbers appear to be declining.
"Grapholita compositella", the clover seed moth, is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found from Europe to Asia Minor, Mongolia, China and eastern Russia. It is also present in North America. There are two generations per year, with adults on wing in May and June and again in August. Males fly during the day, while females fly towards sunset.
comments (3)
So much detail in tiny packages. Posted 2 years ago