Photo © Dan Houghton
Scrobipalpa instabilella
Checklist Number35.114 [B&F: 0812]
Verification
Record requires retention of specimen until confirmed, and may require dissection. Consult with CMR if unsure
Classification
| Family: | Gelechiidae |
| Subfamily: | Gelechiinae |
| Genus: | Scrobipalpa |
| Species: | instabilella |
| Authority: | (Douglas, 1846) |
Nationally scarce (Nb) on saltmarshes, mud-flats and estuaries along parts of the coast of England and Wales, uncommonly in Scotland and Ireland. In Hampshire widely distributed along the coast from Hurst Castle in the west to the eastern side of Hayling Island. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight since 1926. Wingspan 12-14 mm. S. instabilella can be confused with S. salinella, although they can be distinguished by small but constant differences in their genitalia; some examples of S. samadensis can also be similar, but S. instabilella generally has more heavily marked stigmata (MBGBI Vol 4 part 2). Larva mines leaves of Sea-purslane, Grass-leaved Orache, Sea Aster and Glasswort.
The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:
No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Larval | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Records by week (adult)
Records by week (larval)
VC10 Isle of Wight
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yarmouth (SZ38) | 1850 | - | IWG | Adult |
| St Helens (SZ68) | 1884 | - | W H B Fletcher | Adult |
| Yarmouth (SZ38) | 1926 | - | W Fassnidge | Adult |
| Freshwater (SZ38) | 21/07/2018 | one | Dave Cooke | Adult |
VC11 South Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hound Shore (SU40) | 02/08/1974 | 20 | Richard J Dickson | Adult |
| Needs Ore NNR (SZ49) | 1982 | - | Anon | - |
| Bursledon (SU41) | 09/04/1982 | - | J R Langmaid, M J Sterling | Larval |
| Southsea (SZ69) | 09/07/1982 | one | John R Langmaid | Adult |
| Southsea (SZ69) | 29/07/1982 | one | John R Langmaid | Adult |
| North Solent NNR (SZ49) | 1983 | - | Anon | - |
| North Solent NNR (SZ49) | 10/04/1983 | - | J R Langmaid, D H Sterling | Larval |
| Southsea (SZ69) | 31/07/1983 | - | John R Langmaid | Adult |
| Bursledon (SU40) | 04/05/1985 | - | J R Langmaid, M S Parsons | Larval |
| Southsea (SZ69) | 17/08/1987 | one | John R Langmaid | Adult |
| Hurst Castle (SZ38) | 10/06/1990 | - | J R Langmaid, M W Harper | Adult |
| Southsea (SZ69) | 21/07/1991 | one | Richard J Dickson | Adult |
| Southsea (SZ69) | 21/08/1991 | one | John R Langmaid | Adult |
| Southsea (SZ69) | 26/08/1991 | two | John R Langmaid | Adult |
| Northney, Hayling (SU70) | 03/04/1995 | one | John R Langmaid | Pupal |
| Hayling (SU70) | 27/04/1996 | - | J R Langmaid, M S Parsons | Larval |
| Hamble Common (SU40) | 15/07/1996 | - | Richard J Dickson | Adult |
| Northney, Hayling (SU70) | 24/04/1997 | one | J R Langmaid, I R Thirlwell | Larval |
| Cadland (SZ49) | 12/07/1997 | - | J R Langmaid, B Goater | Adult |
| Cadland (SU40) | 12/07/1997 | - | J R Langmaid, B Goater | Adult |
| Portsmouth (SU60) | 21/07/1997 | one | J R Langmaid, R J Dickson, I R Thirlwell | Adult |
| Great Salterns NR, Portsmouth (SU60) | 21/07/1997 | one | Richard J Dickson | Adult |
| Hilsea Lines, Portsmouth (SU60) | 06/09/1998 | one | J R Langmaid, M G M Jansen | Adult |
| Hook Spit (SU40) | 30/08/2000 | one | Richard J Dickson | Adult |
| Hayling (SZ69) | 02/04/2001 | one | J R Langmaid, I R Thirlwell | Larval |
| Hook Lake NR (SU40) | 13/08/2001 | two | Richard J Dickson | Adult |
| Keyhaven Marshes (SZ39) | 17/07/2004 | one | David G Green | Adult |
| Cams Hall (SU50) | 15/07/2005 | one | Richard J Dickson | Adult |
| Southsea (SZ69) | 25/07/2005 | one | John R Langmaid | Adult |
| Southsea (SZ69) | 28/07/2005 | one | John R Langmaid | Adult |
| Stanpit Marsh (SZ19) | 09/08/2005 | two | P A Davey, G Palmer | Adult |
| Southsea (SZ69) | 29/07/2008 | one | John R Langmaid | Adult |
| Southsea (SZ69) | 08/08/2009 | one | John R Langmaid | Adult |
| Titchfield Haven NNR (SU50) | 14/08/2009 | one | Richard J Dickson | Adult |
| Southsea (SZ69) | 21/07/2011 | one | John R Langmaid | Adult |
| Southsea (SZ69) | 21/08/2011 | one | John R Langmaid | Adult |
| Hamble Estuary (SU40) | 16/05/2012 | one | J R Langmaid, R J Dickson | Pupal |
| Hamble (SU40) | 16/05/2012 | one | Richard J Dickson | - |
| Portsmouth (SU60) | 21/08/2015 | one | Ian Thirlwell | Adult |
| North Common, Hayling (SU70) | 10/07/2019 | - | J R Langmaid, S M Palmer, B Elliott | Adult |
| Portsmouth (SU60) | 21/07/2020 | one | Ian Thirlwell | Adult |
| Browndown Coastal Ranges (SZ59) | 20/08/2021 | one | Maurice Opie | Adult |
| Chilling cliffs, W of Brownwich cliffs (SU50) | 02/09/2022 | one | Richard J Dickson | Adult |
| Horsea Island (SU60) | 04/08/2023 | three | Maurice Opie | Adult |
| Horsea Island (SU60) | 04/08/2023 | three | Fareham Moth Group | Adult |
