Epinotia ramella

Alternative names
Black-marked Tortrix
Small Birch Bell
Description

Wingspan 13-16 mm. The typical form of this moth has a dark triangular patch on the forewing but a fairly common variation is Epinotia ramella var. costana, which has an all dark forewing with a pale edge on the costa.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Well wooded areas containing the food plants.

When to see it

The adults fly from July into October

Life History

The larvae feed on the catkins of Birch and Willow.

UK Status

Fairly common throughout Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

VC55 Status

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = A (common and resident)

Reference
49.249 BF1134

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Small Birch Bell
Species group:
insect - moth
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Tortricidae
Records on NatureSpot:
33
First record:
03/09/2004 (Skevington, Mark)
Last record:
12/08/2025 (Cranston, Elspeth)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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