Swammerdamia pyrella

Alternative names
Copper-fringed Drab
Little Ermel
Little Ermine
Description

Wingspan 10-13 mm. One of several related and rather similar species which can be difficult to separate as adults without reference to the structure of the genitalia.  S. pyrella is distinguished from all other Swammerdamia and Pseudoswammerdamia species by the coppery terminal cilia, small size and dark appearance.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Well wooded areas containing the larval food plants.

When to see it

Flies in two generations during May and August

Life History

The larvae feed on Hawthorn, Apple and Pear and like several related species live under a slight web on the upper surface of a leaf. They are quite distinctively marked in yellow and brown.

UK Status

It is a common species throughout most of Britain and Ireland except in the far north. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

VC55 Status

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland but possibly under recorded due to the difficulty of identification. L&R Moth Group status = C (very scarce resident or rare migrant)

Reference
16.017 BF438

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Little Ermel
Species group:
Moths
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Yponomeutidae
Records on NatureSpot:
29
First record:
28/07/2010 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
21/08/2022 (Calow, Graham)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records