Neofaculta ericetella

Alternative names
Heather Grey
Heather Groundling
Heather Sober
Description

Wingspan 13 to 18 mm.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Around Heather.

When to see it

The adults fly in a single generation from late April to June. These are attracted to light at night but can also be disturbed from the foodplant during the day.

Life History

This species lays its eggs on Heather. The larvae emerge to feed on the flowers, later feeding in larval spinnings on the shoots.

UK Status

The moth is common throughout Britain and can be found wherever heather grows. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

VC55 Status

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

Reference
35.017 BF797

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
Heather Groundling
Species group:
insect - moth
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Gelechiidae
Records on NatureSpot:
7
First record:
03/06/2011 (Skevington, Mark)
Last record:
11/05/2019 (Timms, Sue)

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