Birch Ermel
Common NameBirch Ermel
Scientific NameSwammerdamia caesiella
FamilyYponomeutidae
SubfamilyYponomeutinae
Wingspan (mm)10
Primary Colorswhite, grey, brown, bronze
HabitatWoodlands, parks, gardens, and areas with birch trees
Geographic RangeEurope
Host PlantsBetula (birch) species
Flight PeriodMay to July
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on the leaves of birch trees, initially as leaf miners and later feeding externally. Pupation occurs in a cocoon.
Identification TipsKey features include the mottled grey-brown forewings, the prominent fluffy white head, and the coppery-bronze scales at the wing ends. It is typically found near its birch host plants.
Description
A small, slender moth with mottled greyish-white forewings heavily speckled with dark brown, a distinctive fluffy white head, and a coppery-bronze sheen towards the wing tips.
