35.122 Scrobipalpa clintoni Povolny, 1968

Status and Distribution

Very local, restricted to the west and southwest coast of Scotland and can be locally abundant as a larva whereas adults are rarely encounteed. It was searched for in western Ireland and Orkney during the late 1960s and early 1970s without success.

National Status: Nationally Scarce A
Bradley & Fletcher no: 817
Photographer: © R J Heckford
Location: Wester Ross

Provisional map

NHMSYS0000504141

Imago

Scrobipalpa clintoni ex pupa Rumex obtusifolius, First Coast, Wester Ross 2013 (Photo: © R J Heckford)  Scrobipalpa clintoni ex pupa Rumex obtusifolius, First Coast, Wester Ross 2013 (Photo: © R J Heckford)  Scrobipalpa clintoni ex pupa Rumex obtusifolius, First Coast, Wester Ross 2013 (Photo: © R J Heckford) 

Set Specimens

Scrobipalpa clintoni bred, em. 23.v.2013, Rumex obtusifolius, First Coast, Wester Ross (Photo: © R J Heckford)  Scrobipalpa clintoni bred, em. 20.v.2013, Rumex obtusifolius, First Coast, Wester Ross (Photo: © R J Heckford)

Foodplant and Larval Feeding Signs

 Scrobipalpa clintoni 2 emergence holes close together on one stem of Rumex crispus, Mull of Kintyre 2014 (Photo: © N Gregory) Scobipalpa clintoni single holes on 3 stems Rumex crispus, 2 of which. unusually, are close to nodes; Mull of Kintyre 2014 (Photo: © N Gregory)

Rumex crispus (curled dock), see plant distribution map and, in 2014, found for the first time on Rumex obtusifolius (broad-leaved dock).  In Europe (Latvia) it has been found on Rumex confertus along river banks.

Stems of Rumex acetosa were checked at the R. obtusifolius site and are considered unsuitable for S. clintoni as they are hollow and contain no pith (Beavan & Heckford, 2014).

The larva feeds in the stems of the foodplant making small holes usually near the nodes where it ejects pale brown frass (see note below under 'Finding the Moth').

Habitat

Restricted to stony seashores, sandy and shingle beaches and grassy areas very close to high water mark. In Europe, it has additionally been found on dry coastal commons where the foodplant occurs and, in Latvia, on river banks using Rumex confertus (present at only a few widely scattered locations in the British Isles as an introduction).

Typical Rumex crispus with old stems, beach Mull of Kintyre 2014 (Photo: © N Gregory)

Finding the Moth

Larva: feeds in all parts of the stems during July ejecting pale brown frass from holes usually near the nodes. Later it overwinters as a pupa in the stem adjacent to a small hole. Robin Knill-Jones has commented that the pupae, found at a site on the River Clyde, occur head down and usually near a node. One fresh pupa was found under an old leaf base which may account for the minimal burrowing found in many stems at this site.

Caution should be exercised when recording this species from larval feeding signs only as very small holes can be found in stems where limited internal feeding exists. These may be produced by non-lepidopterous larvae and away from known sites for this moth it is suggested the larva, pupa or pupal exuvia are checked to ensure the feeding is lepidopterous.

Adult: rarely observed in the wild.

Similar Species

Slightly variable in colour and markings, it can resemble Scrobipalpa pauperella and paler forms of S. acuminatella.  Specimens with pale veins contrasting against a darker background are rather characterisitic and the lack of red-brown colouration normally help separate it from other Scrobipalpa species. Sometimes the forewing has a slight pinkish flush when fresh. Dissection of worn moths is recommended.

July
April, May, June

Single brooded from April to June.

Very few flight dates are available as it is rarely seen as an adult.  In parts of Europe it is double-brooded occuring from May to June and again from the middle of July into August.