Small Buckthorn Roller
Common NameSmall Buckthorn Roller
Scientific NamePammene rhediella
FamilyTortricidae
SubfamilyOlethreutinae
Wingspan (mm)12
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsorange, brown, cream
HabitatWoodlands, hedgerows, orchards, gardens
Geographic RangeEurope, parts of Asia
Host Plantshawthorn, blackthorn, apple, pear, cherry, buckthorn
Flight PeriodMay to July
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on host plant fruits. Larvae bore into the fruit to feed, then drop to the ground to pupate in soil or leaf litter, overwintering as pupae.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive reddish-brown forewings with the broad, pale, oblique fascia and the dark apical patch. Its small size and association with fruit-bearing trees and shrubs are also key indicators.
Description
A small moth with rich reddish-brown to orange-brown forewings, featuring a prominent creamy-white band extending from the leading edge towards the rear corner, and a darker greyish-brown patch near the wing tip. The hindwings are uniformly dark grey.
