Ypsolopha mucronella

Alternative names
Spindle Smudge
Description

Wingspan 26 to 33 mm. The adult moth has a particularly distinctive attenuated resting posture.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

It is found mainly in woodlands on chalky soils.

When to see it

It can be found in flight during August to April.

Life History

Adult overwinters in dense cover. The larval foodplant is Spindle.

UK Status

This is a local species, with a range from southern England up to the Midlands. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

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
17.001 BF451

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
Spindle Smudge
Species group:
Moths
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Ypsolophidae
Records on NatureSpot:
1
First record:
06/04/2009 (Skevington, Mark)
Last record:
06/04/2009 (Skevington, Mark)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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