Status and Distribution
Rare, with very few recent records. Restricted to south and east England south of a line from the Wash to the Severn. A historic record from Cornwall is considered to require confirmation.
National Status:
Bradley & Fletcher no:
Provisional Map
Maps updated with all data received by January 2020.
Foodplant and Larval Feeding Signs
Carex riparia (greater pond-sedge), see plant distribution map, and to a lesser extent Carex acutiformis (lesser pond-sedge).
Mines the leaves in a long slender whitish or pale brown gallery both upwards and downwards and will change leaves.
Foodplant Map
Habitat
Reed-swamps, riverbanks, edges of pools and lakes, fens, marshes and ditches.
Finding the Moth
Larva: mines can be found in March but become progressively more difficult to locate into April.
Adult: flies at dusk and during the night, occasionally coming to light.
Similar Species
One of the smallest of the Monochroa group with four pale spots along the costal cilia. Dissection is recommended for all but the most pristine of specimens.
Larval Occurrence
Flight Period
Flight period given as June and July but there are very few full dates on the Scheme database.
Earliest: 26th June 2014 (VC25)
Latest: 9th August 1869 (VC28)