Species Account

Select species and region:

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.

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	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