Etainia decentella

Alternative names
Sycamore Seed Dot
Sycamore-seed Pigmy
Ectoedemia decentella
Description

Wingspan 5 to 8 mm. This well-marked moth is one of the few of this group recognisable by forewing markings alone.

Identification difficulty

Adult Larval mine

Habitat

They may often be found resting on sycamore trunks, and are also attracted to light.

When to see it

The adults emerge in two generations, in June and August.

Life History

The larvae form slender mines within Sycamore seeds.

UK Status

Thinly distributed throughout much of England. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.

VC55 Status

It appears to be uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland, where there are few records. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).

Reference
4.076 BF20

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Sycamore-seed Pigmy
Species group:
Moths
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Nepticulidae
Records on NatureSpot:
15
First record:
12/06/2003 (Skevington, Mark)
Last record:
08/09/2023 (Gamble, David)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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