Grapholita tenebrosana

Wingspan 12 - 14 mm. This is a small purple brown species, it sometimes shows a reddish tinge.

It can easily be confused with Grapholita funebrana . They can be separated by the colour of the palps; dull greyish brown in G. funebrana, greyish white on G. tenebrosana. The genitalia of the males are distinct.

Well vegetated areas containing Dog Rose

The moths fly at night and in sunshine in June and July, usually high over Rose bushes. Records are more easily made by search for larvae in Rose hips

The larvae feed in August and September on the hips of Dog Rose and other species of Rose and occasionally the fruits of Rowan

This species is widespread in Britain but is not frequently recorded. This may because it does not come readily to light. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

Rare in Leicestershire and Rutland. The Sapcote specimen of 18th June 2014 was the first confirmed record for VC55. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded - genitalia examination is needed for secure identification)