Species Account

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Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Nb

Local Status: Scarce and restricted resident.

Local Record: Grade 3 See here for explanation

Flight time: One generation. Jul-Aug.

Forewing: 15-18mm.

Foodplant: Common Bird's-foot Trefoil.

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	1902	1987	1902
Year last recorded	2011	1987	2011
Number of records	294	1	590
Number of individuals	791	1	1584
Unique positions	154	1	310
Unique locations	93	1	188
Adult records	263	1	528
Immature records	0	0	0

For the region, we have a total of 590 records from 188 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1902.

Photos

Species Account

For further information refer UK Moths.

Davey, P., 2009: Local in England, the larva feeding on bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), and trefoils and clovers (Trifolium spp.). In Dorset, this xerothermic species is associated with unimproved herb-rich grassland on well-drained chalky soil downland, particularly where there is rocky or bare earth terrain. It ranges from frequent inland to common along the Jurassic coast. Recommendations for promoting this species on chalk downland SSSI's include setting grazing levels that create short turf regions within the grassland mosaic and to physically create scraped chalk surfaces to provide high-temperature microhabitat for the adults to bask by day.

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