S. janiszewskae Reidl. Res., 1973-1980. Frangula. V. loc. f.c.
VC 18.70 Backwarden NR (AME).
SCYTHRIDIDAE
A family of small to medium-sized moths which are either coloured uniform
dull bronzy grey or bronzy fuscous, or have one or two pale spots. The larvae
feed on the leaves or shoots of herbaceous plants from a silken tube or web.
Five of the eleven British species have been recorded in Essex and others could
occur, for the family is secretive and its members seldom observed.
Scythris grandipennis (Haw.) NRR., 1876-(1908). Ulex. V. loc. c.; may still occur
VC 18. 38 Snaresbrook (Machin, 1878d); 48 *Wanstead (Machin, 1877a; Stainton, 1879-1880;
Tutt, 1908).
S. fletcherella Meyr. NRR., 1900. Helianthemum. This does not grow wild in south-east Essex, so
the record may be based on a misidentification.
VC 18. 88 Hadleigh, one by sweeping 4 July 1900 (Whittle, 1901a).
S. picaepennis (Haw.) Res., 1900-1974. Lotus. V. loc. and r.; mainly coastal.
VC 18.78 *Benfleet, 1900 (FGW). VC 19.01 Fingringhoe Wick NR, two 27 May 1974 (AME).
S. limbella (Fabr.) (quadriguttella (Thunb.)) Res., 1875-1978. Atriplex, Chenopodium. Loc. and
rather r.
VC 18. 38 Leyton by AT (coll. Bankes); Stratford, 1894 (AT); 39 Chingford (PH); 48
*Wanstead (Machin, 1875); 88 Westcliff-on-Sea (Whittle, 1915; DGD). VC 19. 02 Colchester
(VCH; coll. Vine).
5. cicadella (Zell.) NRR., c. 1845.5c more probably, S. annuus, which alone
is recorded in Essex (Jermyn, 1974: 70).
VC 18. 88 Southend, where Stevens took the first, and possibly the only, British specimens
sometime between 1845 and 1850 (Stevens, 1871-1872). One of his specimens is extant in the
Dale collection in the Hope Department of Entomology, Oxford University. The date was not
later than 1847, as the specimens were taken on the same day as Thiodia citrana, (see p. 124)