49.222 BF1158  -  Tortricidae -  Olethreutinae - Rhopobota ustomaculana - Small Cowberry Marble - (Curtis, 1831) Adult Micro:  CAT 1 - Distinctive Species -       Leaf-miner:  CAT L - The leaf or a Photo required - reared and possibly dissected       PDF Icon - click for Verification Guidelines
Black - Uncertain/Unknown - Insufficient Data        purple - Leaf Miner
Taxonomy:   Micro  >>  Tortricidae ID Difficulty:  amber  - care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely - quality photographs required.
ID pointers: Forewing is dark brown with silvery white markings. A pale triangular shaped dorsal patch and a dark bar angled to form a slight cross-band, bordering a pale intricately patterned apex to the wing enclosing a dark spot.
Distribution:  (Last record: 22/01/2025 )  -  Nationally scarce A – Last recorded in 1970 – Recent discovery of Leaf mines at Bray Clough – January 2025 – Likley the species is common on Derbyshire moorlands where there is Cowberry. Most likely under-recorded.
Flight Period: June /  July /  -  June – July Mine Period: January /  February /  March /  October /  November /  December /   - The larvae start to form mines on the leaves of Cowberry producing obvious frass. The larvae then spin leaves together to feed on the cellular tissue of the soft parts of the leaves (Parenchyma). Moth Activity: Cathemeral   - active in afternoon and evening sunshine and occasionally comes to light Photographed: Yes -  Photographed By: Christian Heintzen  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 14 February 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 13mm
Food Plant: Cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea)
Last Recorded Date: 22/01/2025
Last Recorded By: Christian Heintzen
Last Recorded General Area: Not Recorded
No First Date Information Recorded

IMAGES BELOW:  Bray Clough – January 2025 – Christian Heintzen©

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