Sorhagenia lophyrella

Wingspan about10 mm. The three British species of Sorhagenia cannot be distinguished on external characters alone, and genitalia dissection is required to be certain of identification. The adults have noticeable scale-tufts on the forewing.

Areas where the larval foodplants are present.

To follow

In common with the other two species, lophyrella feeds on buckthorn and alder buckthorn, at first in the bud, then later between spun leaves.

It is distributed in south-eastern England, with odd populations further north. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce A.

It appears to be uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland, where there are few records. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).