General comments:
Widespread and common. Recent targeted examination of this species and the extremely similar C. alchimiella has revealed that examples of alchimiella are vanishingly rare. A goodly number of specimens in private collections have proved to be robustella on dissection. During 2023, up to October, all material from our area received for critical examination has proven to be robustella. This discovery has come as a great surprise. This species was unrecognised in Britain until 1973 (see Emmet, Entomologist's Gazette 24: 305 - 306 plus 2 plates), although J. F. Stephens (1835. Illustrations of British Entomology indicated that he felt that alchimiella was actually comprised of two species. In 1973, Emmet stated that whilst alchimiella appeared widespread from Kent to Scotland and in Ireland, robustella appeared to be confined to the south-east of a line from The Wash to Portland Bill.

Hertfordshire Notes: The first record of robustella for the county was from Borehamwood, on 4th June 1975 (Eric Bradford).

	Determination by Genitalia Examination Required

	Mine: Moth needs to be reared and, in some cases, possibly dissected.

Recorded in 31 (76%) of 41 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1975. Last Recorded in 2023. Additional Stats

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