Anacampsis populella
Anacampsis populella is a moth of the family Gelechiidae, which is native to Europe and has been accidentally introduced to North America. It was first described in 1759 by Carl Alexander Clerck, a Swedish entomologist. The type specimen is from Sweden. The foodplants of the larvae are poplars and willows.
Life cycle
The wingspan is 14–19 mm, the colours are variable and the sexes are similar. Abdomen with segments 2-4 often ochreous-yellow. Forewings are whitish, more or less irrorated with black or dark grey, usually palest towards base of costa; costal edge sometimes yellowish-tinged; sometimes a large black patch occupying dorsal 2/3 from base to near tornus stigmata blackish, often concealed; a whitish obtusely angulated fascia at 3/4, indented above angle, sometimes indistinct terminal black dots. Hindwings over 1, rather dark grey. The larva is pale grey-greenish or yellowish; dots black; head and plate of 2 black. A similar species, A. blattariella is also a variable species and can only be told apart from A. populella by genitalia dissection.They are on wing from June to September, depending on the location, and can be found on tree trunks, dislodged from foliage or swept from creeping willow. They also come to light.