Species Account

Select species and region:

Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Common

Local Status: Uncommon and thinly distributed resident.

Local Record: Grade 1 See here for explanation

Flight time: One generation, Aug-Nov, (Mar-Jun after hibernation).

Forewing: 19-23mm.

Foodplant: Willows, Aspen and 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	1905	1983	1905
Year last recorded	2011	2011	2011
Number of records	881	118	1998
Number of individuals	979	185	2328
Unique positions	164	13	354
Unique locations	140	12	304
Adult records	742	115	1714
Immature records	11	3	28

For the region, we have a total of 1998 records from 304 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1905.

Photos

Species Account

For further information refer UK Moths.

Davey, P., 2009: A widespread species in England and Wales, but local in Scotland, the larva feeding on sallow and willow (Salix spp.) and poplar (Populus spp.). In Dorset, the moth is widespread and frequent, increasing to common locally, in sallow-rich damp habitat. "The insect seems to be uniformly dispersed in the county and though frequent, never abundant, though occasionally it may be found in small groups in caves. It is, however, an insect whose habits and beauty cause it to be more frequently noticed than many commoner species." (W Parkinson Curtis manuscript). In Dorset, the moth is double brooded, with a discrete generation between early July and mid-August. The peak of the summer brood is more than twice as large on average, than that of the winter brood. Post-winter numbers are roughly six times larger on average than those observed during the autumn, and a significant spring emergence is suspected.

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