pointed groundling
Common Namepointed groundling
Scientific NameCaryocolum vicinella
FamilyGelechiidae
SubfamilyGelechiinae
Wingspan (mm)11.5
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, beige
HabitatDry grasslands, heathlands, chalk downlands, open woodland
Geographic RangeEurope, parts of Asia
Host PlantsDianthus, Silene
Flight PeriodJuly to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are internal feeders, boring into the stems or flower heads of host plants. Pupation occurs in a cocoon, often in the soil or leaf litter.
Identification TipsLook for its small size, pointed wing shape at rest, and mottled brown/grey cryptic pattern. Definitive identification often requires examination of genitalia due to similarity with other *Caryocolum* species.
Description
A small, slender moth with mottled brown and grey forewings, often with indistinct darker streaks and spots, and a distinctly pointed hind end when at rest.
