Species Account

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Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Migrant

Local Status: Very scarce migrant/wanderer, probable rare resident.

Local Record: Grade 4 See here for explanation

Flight time: One generation, Aug-Oct.

Forewing: 41-48mm.

Foodplant: Aspen, poplars.

IMPORTANT - Please note that the maps and accounts are provisional, subject to change and further update. The whole dataset still needs to go through the final verification process and it is likely that a very small number of records will not satisfy the present requirements and there are other records that have not been formally submitted. The information is for guidance only.

Record breakdown:

	VC9	VC11	Region
Year first recorded	1999	1985	1985
Year last recorded	2011	2011	2011
Number of records	54	3	114
Number of individuals	51	3	108
Unique positions	25	3	56
Unique locations	23	3	52
Adult records	47	3	100
Immature records	0	0	0

For the region, we have a total of 114 records from 52 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1985.

Photos

Species Account

For further information refer UK Moths.

Davey, P., 2009: An irregular immigrant species to Britain and extinct resident, the larva feeding on aspen (Populus tremula). The species was resident in Orlestone Forest in Kent between 1935 and 1955 before the aspen trees within the wood were felled to make way for conifers. In Dorset, this spectacular moth has been recorded on nineteen occasions in the past twenty-seven years either at sugar, at light or during the day. All county records follow; most are from light traps unless stated otherwise: West Bexington, on 15 September 2005 (R Eden), Lyons Gate, by day on house wall on 25 September 2005 (T Box), Radipole, worn female at rest by day on 2 October 1954 (L Summer Ward), Puddletown, at MV on 20 September 1999, 12 September 2006, 7 and 20 September 2007 (H Wood Homer), Shaggs, on 29 September 2005, 20 September 2006 (Butterfly Conservation), to house-lit first-floor window whence netted on 7 September 2008 (L Hill), East Holme, 1 October 2007 (J Cox), Spetisbury, 7 September and 7 October 2008 (D and Mrs J Kingland), Langton Matravers, on 9 August 1986 (E Groves),on 30 September 1994 (D Kemp), Studland, on 23 September 2006 (C Manley), Poole, in 1866 (E Blanchard), Longfleet, at rest on ash tree in 1892 (W Parkinson Curtis), Swanage, at sugar on 20 September 1938 (C Cole), at sugar on 29 August 1939 (P Whitehouse), Branksome, in 1945 (W Parkinson Curtis), Parkstone, at lighted window on 11 September 1976 (Miss Brotherton), Verwood, at house light on 7 September 2008 (C Hill), Boveridge, about 1740 (Storey), Matchams, on 13 September 1985 (G Le Pard), Iford, on 11 October 1995 (M Jeffes), Highcliffe, at rest on house wall on 10 September 1982 (E Wild).

Occurrences of this species have evidently increased of late, and residency is just possible for recurring examples trapped in the Piddle and Frome river valleys. Although the majority of record dates coincide with airflows from the Continent, the 7 September 2007 example at Puddletown occurred following a ten-day period of north to north-westerly winds.

Hill, L., 2013: For the period 2010 to 2013 there’s been a further 42 records from 20 sites.

Last updated: 11 September 2013

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