Sclerocona acutellus

Alternative names
Reed Pearl
Thatch Pearl
Description

Wingspan about 28 mm. Quite distinctive, and unlikely to be confused with any other British species.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

An adventive species, believed to have been introduced with reeds imported from central Europe for thatching cottages, though it is possible that some are true migrants.

When to see it

The adult moths fly from June to August.

UK Status

The first record was from Hampshire in August 1988 and since then there have been a number of records, many of which have been in close proximity to newly-thatched cottages. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Migrant/Adventive.

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
63.026 BF1374a

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
Thatch Pearl
Species group:
Moths
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Crambidae
Records on NatureSpot:
1
First record:
01/07/2006 (Skevington, Mark)
Last record:
01/07/2006 (Skevington, Mark)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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