Recording method

Larvae feed gregariously in a web on the leaves.

Orchard Ermine Y. padella, Apple Ermine Y. malinellus and Spindle Ermine Y. cagnagella are very similar as adults. White forms of all three away from their food plants cannot be separated with certainty as wing markings and genitalia show no consistent differences. Larval records are acceptable when the food plant is identified: Bird Cherry (Y. evonymella), Blackthorn/Hawthorn (Y. padella), apples (Y. malinellus) and Spindle (Y. cagnagella). Adults reared from identified larvae are also acceptable.
Otherwise record as 16.0021 Yponomeuta agg.

Life cycle

Larvae present August-June.  Adults fly July-August.

Larval foodplants

Hawthorn species, Blackthorn, Cherry Plum Prunus cerasifera.

History

The first for Dumfries & Galloway was found at Torrs, Wigtownshire, on 27th July 1983 by Sir Arthur Duncan, specimen at National Museums Scotland, while the first for Dumfriesshire was trapped at Durisdeer on 4th August 1999, with the Kirkcudbrightshire first being trapped near Dalry on 8th August 2002.