Species Account

Select species and region:

Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Common

Local Status: Fairly common and widely distributed resident.

Local Record: Grade 2 See here for explanation

Flight time: Jun-Aug.

Forewing: 9-11mm.

Foodplant: Mosses.

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	1885	1995	1885
Year last recorded	2010	2010	2010
Number of records	181	140	642
Number of individuals	195	302	994
Unique positions	75	14	178
Unique locations	73	10	166
Adult records	171	139	620
Immature records	2	0	4

For the region, we have a total of 642 records from 166 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1885.

Photos

Species Account

For further information refer UK Moths.

Davey, P., 2009: A local species in England, Wales and southern Scotland, the larva feeding on mosses (Musci spp.), in particular the moss Tortula muralis. In Dorset, the moth is widespread and usually at low density, but locally frequent near habitation where old roofs and walls support colonies of Tortula ruralis, and in sandy localities such as Arne Wood, Town Common, Canford Heath and Great Ovens Hill. However, Dr P Sterling has looked for but has never seen larvae or larval feedings in the moss Tortula ruralis ssp. ruraliformis where it colonises tracks on sandy soils.

See background to species accounts. Index of Vernacular names - Search - Random Species