Grapholita compositella

Wingspan 9-10 mm. A small but very attractive Tortricid, being all dark except for four long white strigulae on the dorsum and eight short ones on the leading forewing edge. There is also a leaden metallic patch, or ocellus towards the rear of the wing.

Found in short grassy habitats.

The moths can be found flying by day and are on the wing in May and June and again in August.

The larvae feed on Clover, either in the stems or in spun leaves.

The species is widely distributed over the British Isles and can be common in places. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = C (very scarce resident or rare migrant)