Comments on: Caloptilia hemidactylella

By: stevew

stevew — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 19:58:08 +0000

There’s certainly a reasonable amount of field maple around here, including a fair sized tree at the bottom of the garden, plus in our hedges. I’ll see what I can find idc.

Thanks again.

By: Neil

Neil — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 19:07:15 +0000

Suffolk seems to be the stronghold for this moth at the moment. We have yet to find what it is breeding on however – all cones on Field maple containing larvae have hatched out as semifascia so far. Could be on other maples or even Sycamore.

By: stevew

stevew — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 09:16:37 +0000

Thanks for your comments, Guys

I didn’t photo it but can confirm the banded cilia. It was something I picked up on when comparing the pics on line. Interesting to note that the lead pic on UK moths was a Suffolk example from Paul Kitchener.

By: Neil

Neil — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 17:48:05 +0000

Do you have a photo of the moth Steve? If the cilia are intact they should show some bands if hemidactylella. Had one myself the other night and I would say it is a scarce but regular moth with me these days with a few records each year. As Matthew says, has turned up inland too so seems to be spreading.

By: Matthew Deans

Matthew Deans — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 14:42:29 +0000

Hi Steve, Caloptilia hemidactylella is a scarce resident in Suffolk now. It is regularly picked up by recorders like myself, particularly along the coast but also occasionally inland.

Up until about 10 years ago it was a gross rarity in the British Isles with <10 records nationally.