35.159 BF760 – Gelechiidae – Gellechiinae – Exoteleia dodecella

35.159 BF760 - Gelechiidae - Gellechiinae - Exoteleia dodecella - Tufted Pine Moth - (Linnaeus, 1758)

Adult Micro: CAT 2 - Confusion Species - Leaf-miner: CAT L - The leaf or a Photo required -

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- Uncertain/Unknown - Insufficient Data - Leaf Miner

Taxonomy: Micro >> Gelechiidae

Other Name/s: Pine Groundling

ID Difficulty: green

- easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.

ID pointers: A greyish-brown forewing with paler mottling and with indistinct bands. Several raised tufts across the wing.

Distribution: (Last record: 24/06/2023 at Belper ) - Very few records of this species in VC57 & Derbyshire, despite being widely distributed in the British Isles in conifer plantations.

Flight Period: June / July / - On the wing during June – July.

Mine Period: January / February / March / April / May / September / October / November / December / - Feeds on the needles of Scots Pine, and sometimes on Larch, during the autumn. The larvae hibernates. In the spring the larvae feeds on spun needles and shoots. The larvae can cause sufficient damage to be a serious pest in some areas.

Moth Activity: Nocturnal - and is attracted to light

*** Last updated on 15 February 2025 by TD ***

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Wingspan: 12-15mm

Food Plant: Pine (Pinus sylvestris). Sometimes Larch

Last Recorded Date: 24/06/2023

Last Recorded By: Dave Evans

Last Recorded General Area: Belper

No First Date Information Recorded