Stibaromacha ratella
Scientific NameStibaromacha ratella
FamilyGelechiidae
SubfamilyGelechiinae
Wingspan (mm)11
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorscream, tan, dark brown
HabitatGrasslands, heathlands, open woodlands, and disturbed areas where host plants grow.
Geographic RangeEurope (including Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Eastern Europe, and parts of Russia).
Host PlantsGenista tinctoria, Cytisus scoparius
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are internal feeders, typically mining leaves or boring into the shoots and stems of their host plants. They undergo complete metamorphosis, pupating within the plant material or soil.
Identification TipsKey identification features include its small size, the pale forewings with two prominent, dark, rectangular discal spots, and its association with broom and greenweed host plants.
Description
A small moth with creamy-white to light tan forewings, prominently marked with two distinct dark brown, almost rectangular spots in the discal area, and two smaller, less defined spots towards the termen. The hindwings are plain grey.
