A recently identified resident species, the larvae feeding on
Acer species.
In Ent Rec J Var 129 (2017) a paper was published introducing
Anarsia innoxiella as a species new to science, separated from the adventive
A. lineatella.
Since the separation of the two species, a number of records of
A. innoxiella were discovered in southern England, and in our area it is reasonably widespread in Hampshire and was taken on Isle of Wight for the first time in 2021.
Most historic light-trapped specimens of the
lineatella / innoxiella pair are most likely to refer to the latter, but this is by no means a hard and fast rule as there has been at least one specimen of the former at light (Dorset, 2003). Historic records without a supporting photo or specimen cannot be confirmed.
Distinguishable from
A. lineatella by having a broadly longitudinal black spot followed by white in the middle of the wing (
A. innoxiella has a straighter black streak in this area), but there is variation in both species. For other distinguishing features, see Ent Rec 129: 118.
Updated: July 2019 (taxonomic status)