| Small Birch Bell (Epinotia ramella (Linnaeus, 1758)) |
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Scientific name: Epinotia ramella (Linnaeus, 1758) Common name: Small Birch Bell French name: Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Microlepidoptera Family: Tortricidae Subfamily: Olethreutinae Wingspan: 13-16 mm. Biotope: Woodlands with Birches and Willows. Geographic area: Europe, Asia east to eastern Russia, Japan. Flight time: July-October. Number of generations : 1 Caterpillar: Host plant: Birches (Betula spp), Willows (Salix spp). Caterpillars feed on catkins. |
The typical form of the Small Birch Bell shows a dark triangle-shaped patch on the fore wings' inner edge. When at rest, the two patches of the fore wings merge to form a typical crescent-shaped dark dorsal marking. The area close to the costal edge is a whitish colour with short dark thread-shaped markings. There are black patches next to the apex. The dorsal area (at rest) is more variable with a dark post-median area. The ramella form shows a lighter-coloured area between the crescent-shaped marking and the post-median patch. The costana form shows a dark area between the two patches. The general look is then a dark dorsal area bordered by a whitish area on the costal edge. The hind wings are brownish, darker close to the apex. There is a white area along the costal edge. The Crescent Bell (Epinotia bilunana) does not show any dark marking at the apex of the fore wings. |
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I have observed this Tortricidae in my garden, close to a Birch tree. |
André Bon August 2019