Scythropia crataegella from the safety of a silken web they produce together; young larvae are leaf miners. The mainstay food is leaves of "Crataegus" (hawthorn), hence the species' name. But they have also been recorded from other Amygdaloideae, e.g. blackthorn ("Prunus spinosa") and other "Prunus" species, "Cotoneaster", as well as "Malus sylvestris" and "Pyrus" (pear). Scythropia crataegella Scythropia crataegella, the hawthorn moth, is a species of moth in the family Plutellidae from western Eurasia. It is usually placed in a small subfamily Scythropiinae, which is sometimes included in the Yponomeutinae of the Yponomeutidae. Described as "Phalaena crataegella" by Linnaeus in 1767, it
Prunus serrula typical of "Prunus", are produced in clusters of one to three. The fruit is a small oval bright red drupe. "Prunus serrula" is grown as a ornamental tree, especially for winter interest. It tolerates a variety of soil types and has a wide pH range. It prefers full sun and does well in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8. Its potential as an invasive species is low, as it is susceptible to many common garden diseases and pests such as fire blight, powdery mildew and Japanese beetles. It is sometimes grafted to "Prunus serrulata" (Japanese cherry) crowns, forming a tree