35.137 Caryocolum tricolorella (Haworth, 1812)

  1. Home
  2. Caryocolum tricolorella

Status and Distribution

Local over much of England and Wales, occasionally locally common. Unrecorded in Scotland until 2019 when confirmed from the central Highlands (in VC96) at Inshriach with small numbers recorded over four nights in late July. Since then, noted in VC106 in 2023 and a few relatively close to the VC96 site in 2025. Rare in Ireland and apparently absent from the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

 

National Status: Local
Bradley & Fletcher no: 834
Caryocolum tricolorella
Photographer: © B Smart
Location: Lancashire

Provisional map

NHMSYS0000501657

Foodplant and Larval Feeding Signs

Caryocolum tricolorella feeding sign (Photo: © B Smart)

Stellaria holostea (greater stitchwort), see plant distribution map.

In Europe also recorded on Stellaria alsine = uliginosa (bog stitchwort) and Cerastium arvense (field mouse-ear).

Starts with a gallery-like leaf mine (see http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/C.tricolorella.htm), later inside buds or spinning shoots together.

Habitat

Deciduous woodland edges, open woodland, hedgerows and sheltered, shaded banks.

In Europe said to have a particular association with oak woodland. 

Finding the Moth

Larva: initially makes gallery-like mines in the leaves during the winter (December and January) later feeding in the buds or spun terminal shoots well into May in some years. Can be common when searched for as a larva in the right habitat.

Adult: attracted to light and to sugar.

Similar Species

Its larger size and the large rounded triangular black block on the costa of the forewings, contrasting with the light orange-brown base and dorsum make this one of the more readily identifiable members of this genus. Scrobipalpa costella does have a similarly shaped marking on the forewing but lacks the orange ochreous dorsal area.

January, February, March, April, May, December
July, August, September

Single brooded from mid-/late July to early September.

Earliest: 3rd June 1996 (VC67) which is exceptionally early.

Latest: 13th September 1991 (VC66)