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 May-June.  Adults fly July-August.

Larval foodplants

Spindle, Evergreen Spindle (Euonymus species).

History

The first for Dumfries & Galloway was found at Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, on 3rd August 1970 by Sir Arthur Duncan, specimen at National Museums Scotland, while the first for Kirkcudbrightshire was found on Auchencairn Bay on 28th July 2004, with the Wigtownshire first being found at Airyolland Lodge on Luce Bay on 8th July 2011.