Species Account
Distribution
Summary Data
Season (Adult / Immature):
|
National Status: Common Local Status: Fairly common and fairly widespread resident. Local Record: Grade 2 See here for explanation Flight time: One generation, Jul-Sep. Forewing: 10-12mm. Foodplant: Grasses. |
Record breakdown:
VC9 | VC11 | Region | |
---|---|---|---|
Year first recorded | 1905 | 1982 | 1905 |
Year last recorded | 2011 | 2011 | 2011 |
Number of records | 897 | 80 | 1954 |
Number of individuals | 1355 | 135 | 2980 |
Unique positions | 140 | 19 | 318 |
Unique locations | 110 | 18 | 256 |
Adult records | 714 | 79 | 1586 |
Immature records | 1 | 0 | 2 |
For the region, we have a total of 1954 records from 256 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1905.
Photos
Species Account
For further information refer UK Moths.
Davey, P., 2009: A species occurring most frequently in south-eastern Britain, but rare in northern Britain, the larva feeding on the inner stems of various grasses including tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), tufted hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa) and false oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius). In Dorset, the moth occurs in a variety of different habitats. It is common on unimproved grassland on clay soils and chalk downland, and locally abundant on coastal undercliff; in these situations, tall fescue and false oat-grass are probable foodplants. It is at low density in dune habitat at Studland, Brownsea Island and Hengistbury Head where lyme-grass (Leymus arenarius) or sand couch (Elytrigia juncea) may host the moth. It is also at low density in river, fen, marsh, lagoon and harbour habitat suggesting reed-canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) as the host plant in these damper places. The national norm of a single brood between late-July and early September holds true for Dorset, but a partial first brood in June is also indicated by the records.
See background to species accounts. Index of Vernacular names - Search - Random Species