Photo © Mike Wall

Spruce Seed Moth

Cydia strobilella

Checklist Number
49.335 [B&F: 1254]

Verification
Record will normally be accepted but photo evidence may be required - check with CMR if not sure of identity

Classification

Family:Tortricidae
Subfamily:Olethreutinae
Genus:Cydia
Species:strobilella
Authority:(Linnaeus, 1758)

Nationally scarce (Nb) in coniferous woodland and plantations throughout much of Britain. In Hampshire local amongst spruce in both vice-counties and, although not often seen, may be bred in abundance from fallen cones collected in early spring. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 10-15 mm. Reminiscent of C. conicolana but differs in having golden yellow irroration on the distal three-quarters of the forewing, a transverse medio-dorsal stria extending to the costa and a weakly marked ocellus [Bradley]. Larva feeds within cones of Norway Spruce.

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)

VC10 Isle of Wight

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Ventnor (SZ57)08/05/2016fiveIain OutlawAdult
Ventnor (SZ57)08/05/2016fiveStephen PlummerAdult
Bonchurch (SZ57)12/05/2016oneJames HalseyAdult

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Bolderwood, NF (SU20)1984-D H, M J & P H Sterling-
Ampfield Wood (SU42)25/01/1986-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingLarval
Southsea (SZ69)15/05/1998oneJohn R LangmaidAdult
Southsea (SZ69)06/05/2000oneJohn R LangmaidAdult
Portsmouth (SU60)10/05/2001oneIan ThirlwellAdult
Southsea (SZ69)30/04/2005oneJohn R LangmaidAdult
Southsea (SZ69)03/05/2006oneJohn R LangmaidAdult
Southsea (SZ69)15/04/2007oneJohn R LangmaidAdult
Portsmouth (SU60)07/05/2016oneIan ThirlwellAdult
Southsea (SZ69)08/05/2016threeJohn R LangmaidAdult
Portsmouth (SU60)08/05/2016twoIan ThirlwellAdult
Romsey (SU32)08/05/2016twoMike BakerAdult
Pennington (SZ39)08/05/2016twoRichard CoomberAdult
Southampton (SU31)23/04/2019-Russell B WynnAdult
Ashurst, NF (SU31)01/07/2021oneRichard CoomberAdult
Lee (SU31)11/08/2024oneChris ThainAdult

VC12 North Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Chilbolton (SU33)08/05/2016oneGlynne EvansAdult
Chawton Wood (SU63)25/02/202312Tony DavisLarval