White Cloaked Shoot
Common NameWhite Cloaked Shoot
Scientific NameBlastodacna atra
FamilyCosmopterigidae
SubfamilyBlastodacninae
Wingspan (mm)12
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorswhite, black, brown, grey
HabitatOrchards, gardens, woodlands
Geographic RangeEurope, parts of Asia, North America
Host Plantsapple, hawthorn, pear, rowan
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae bore into the shoots and bark of host trees, causing damage. They overwinter as larvae and pupate in spring.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive mottled pattern with a prominent white basal patch on the forewings, its small size, and association with Rosaceae trees like apple.
Description
A small, cryptically patterned moth with mottled dark brown, black, and white forewings, often featuring a distinct pale patch near the base.
