About Pseudotelphusa scalella (Scopoli, 1763)
Pseudotelphusa scalella is a moth species belonging to the family Gelechiidae. This species has a distinctive 'pied' appearance, which makes it one of the easier Gelechiids to identify. Its distribution ranges across most of Europe, extending to the southern Ural and Volga regions, and it is also found in Turkey. Within the United Kingdom, it occurs in central and southern England. The wingspan of adult Pseudotelphusa scalella measures 11–15 mm. Adults are on wing from May to June, with flight timing varying slightly by location, and they are attracted to light. The larvae of this moth feed on moss, lichen, and oak trees. On continental Europe, larvae are known to be associated with oak (Quercus) trees as well as mosses growing on tree trunks. In the United Kingdom, the full life stages of the larva have not yet been fully described.
