Photo © Paul Brock
Scythris empetrella
Checklist Number43.009 [B&F: 0917]
Verification
Record will require further evidence, at least a good photograph, unless CMR is aware recorder has confidence in identification
Classification
| Family: | Scythrididae |
| Subfamily: | Scythridinae |
| Genus: | Scythris |
| Species: | empetrella |
| Authority: | Karsholt & Nielsen, 1976 |
Vulnerable (proposed as a future Red Data Book species) and restricted in the UK to sandy heathland in Dorset and Hampshire. In Hampshire reliably recorded only from heathland near Lyndhurst. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 8-10 mm. Best found by slowly sweeping the hand over carpets of the foodplant (MBGBI Vol 4 part 1). Larva feeds on Heather, Bell Heather and Cross-leaved Heath, living within a silken tube.
The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:
No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Larval | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Records by week (adult)
Records by week (larval)
VC11 South Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyndhurst (SU30) | 06/1834 | - | Anon | - |
| Hengistbury Head (SZ19) | 05/05/1999 | five | Phil Sterling | Larval |
| Lyndhurst (SU30) | 09/05/2000 | - | David G Green & Mark Parsons | Larval |
| Sopley Common (SZ19) | 13/05/2000 | - | Phil Sterling | Larval |
| Lyndhurst (SU30) | 07/05/2006 | - | David G Green | Larval |
| Lyndhurst (SU30) | 07/05/2013 | 30 | Mark Parsons | Larval |
| Lyndhurst (SU30) | 18/05/2014 | one | Tim Norriss, Lynn Fomison | Larval tube |
| Parc Pale (SU30) | 05/05/2016 | four | Paul D Brock | Larval |
| Parc Pale (SU30) | 07/11/2016 | one | Paul D Brock | Adult |
| Hengistbury Head (SZ19) | 10/07/2023 | three | Robin P Harley | Adult |
| Hengistbury Head (SZ19) | 29/05/2024 | four | Robin P Harley | Larval feeding signs |
| Parc Pale, NF (SU30) | 08/06/2024 | two | Will Langdon | Adult |
| Parc Pale, NF (SU30) | 22/06/2024 | four | Dan Houghton | Adult |
| Parc Pale, NF (SU30) | 23/06/2024 | 12 | Nigel R Jones | Adult |
| Hengistbury Head (SZ19) | 26/06/2024 | two | Robin P Harley | Adult |
| Hengistbury Head (SZ19) | 04/07/2024 | seven | Robin P Harley | Adult |
