35.041 Bryotropha desertella (Douglas, 1850)

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Status and Distribution

Local to very local, in larger sandy coastal areas throughout much of the British Isles. Rare in northern Scotland occuring as far north as Orkney Isles. Inland records are extremely unusual and decreasing, most modern ones from dry, sandy areas in East Anglia, such as the Brecks. Elsewhere, records are mostly historical and associated with sand and gravel quarries. Records away from these habitats should be treated with considerable caution and any specimens critically examined for confirmation. A first record from Northants in 2022 has been confirmed by dissection, but is considered of vagrant or adventive origin by the County Moth Recorder. 

Re-examination, by dissection, of all specimens (four) from Huntingdonshire have all proved to be female B. terrella.

National Status: Nationally Scarce B
Bradley & Fletcher no: 786
Bryotropha desertella
Photographer: ©C M Manley
Location: Glamorganshire

Provisional map

NHMSYS0000501549

Foodplant and Larval Feeding Signs

Syntrichia ruraliformis (sand-hill screw-moss), Homalothecium (Hypnum) lutescens (yellow feather-moss) and Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus (springy turf-moss).

The larva feeds in whitish silken tubes incorporating some sand grains within the moss.

Habitat

In sandy coastal areas, particularly sparsely vegetated open duneland and also, rarely, inland in sandy areas.

Finding the Moth

Larva: in whitish silken tubes incorporating some sand grains within the moss foodplant.

Adult: can be disturbed during the day and comes to light.

Similar Species

B. desertella lacks the coppery brown gloss of B. terrella, the latter usually being slightly larger and with broader forewings (wingspan 11-15mm in B. desertella as opposed to 14-16.5mm in B. terrella). In coastal dunes, B. desertella is usually smaller than B. terrella and B. politella but there is some size overlap. Inland, B. desertella is usually larger and can be darker than on the coast making it difficult to separate from B. terrella. Dissection is strongly recommended if there is any doubt, particularly if an inland B. desertella is suspected. Further information on comparisons with B. politella and B. terrella can be found under those species.

January, February, October, November, December
May, June, July, August

Single brooded from mid-May to late August.

Earliest: one exceptionally early record of 15th April 2004 (VC25); next, at same location, 13th May 2006.

Latest: 10th September 2006 (VC48)