Sharp-winged Drill
Common NameSharp-winged Drill
Scientific NameEpiblema foenella
FamilyTortricidae
SubfamilyOlethreutinae
Wingspan (mm)20
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, reddish-brown, white
HabitatOpen grassy areas, waste ground, meadows, roadsides, areas with host plants
Geographic RangePalaearctic (Europe, Asia), introduced to North America
Host PlantsArtemisia absinthium, Artemisia vulgaris
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae bore into the stems or roots of Artemisia species, where they feed and overwinter. Pupation occurs in the spring within the larval feeding site or in the soil.
Identification TipsLook for its small size, the mottled grey-brown and reddish forewings, and particularly the distinctive reddish-brown patch near the termen, often bordered by a pale line. Association with Artemisia plants is also a key indicator.
Description
A small, cryptically patterned moth with mottled grey, brown, and reddish-brown forewings. It features a prominent reddish-brown patch near the outer margin, often outlined with a pale, almost white line.
