Species Account
Distribution
Summary Data
Season (Adult / Immature):
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National Status: Nb Local Status: Uncommon and mainly coastal resident. Local Record: Grade 3 See here for explanation Flight time: Aug-Oct. Forewing: 16-19mm. Foodplant: Sea Campion and coastal grasses. |
Record breakdown:
VC9 | VC11 | Region | |
---|---|---|---|
Year first recorded | 1905 | 1996 | 1905 |
Year last recorded | 2011 | 2010 | 2011 |
Number of records | 818 | 2 | 1640 |
Number of individuals | 4126 | 3 | 8258 |
Unique positions | 70 | 2 | 144 |
Unique locations | 51 | 2 | 106 |
Adult records | 619 | 2 | 1242 |
Immature records | 0 | 0 | 0 |
For the region, we have a total of 1640 records from 106 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1905.
Photos
Species Account
For further information refer UK Moths.
Davey, P., 2009: A mainly coastal species confined to the southern-most counties of England, the larva feeding on various grasses and herbaceous plants. In Dorset, the moth is common to abundant locally in unimproved coastal grassland from Purbeck westwards. Larvae have been found on sea campion (Silene uniflora) at Ferrybridge, so shingle habitat evidently provides an additional habitat. Singletons elsewhere are possibly dispersed individuals, but small numbers year on year from Woolgarston suggest colonisation of the southern slopes of the Purbeck Ridge, and old record from Badbury Rings hints at colonisation on unimproved grassland well inland too, similar to that occurring on the southern slopes of the South Downs in Kent: Shaggs, two at MV on 2 October 2003 (M Parsons), Badbury Rings, three (W Parkinson Curtis), Corfe Castle, at MV on 30 September 2003, two on 3 October 2003 (J Cox), Woolgarston, thirteen at MV between 18 September 1991 and 10 October 1991, eight between 18 September 1992 and 1 October 1992, three between 21 September 1993 and 30 September 1993, four between 21 September 1995 and 16 October 1995 (R Burt), Arne, at MV on 28 September 1983 (B Pickess), Shell Bay, at MV on 20 September 1998 (P Davey), Brownsea Island, at MV on 6 October 1965 (A Bromby), Hengistbury Head, at MV on 3 October 1996 (M Jeffes).
Recommendations relate to measures that ensure the creation and appropriate management of herb-rich unimproved grassland on chalky soil on the Purbeck coast and on Portland. This species should be included in management plans that govern sites that fall within these areas.
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