Species Account

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Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Common

Local Status: Scarce and thinly distributed or restricted resident.

Local Record: Grade 2 See here for explanation

Flight time: One generation, Apr-May.

Forewing: 19-24mm.

Foodplant: Mullians, figworts and buddleias

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	1939	1988	1939
Year last recorded	2011	2011	2011
Number of records	320	11	662
Number of individuals	453	13	932
Unique positions	82	3	170
Unique locations	68	4	144
Adult records	280	10	580
Immature records	17	1	36

For the region, we have a total of 662 records from 144 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1939.

Photos

Species Account

For further information refer UK Moths.

Davey, P., 2009: A widespread species in southern Britain, the larva feeding on figwort (Scrophularia spp.), mullein (Verbascum spp.) and buddleia (Buddleia spp.). Although the moth is an infrequent visitor to light traps in Dorset, it is locally common on chalky soils where the highly visible larvae may be seen scything their way through the thick leaves of great mullein (Verascum thapsus). Occasionally, caterpillars are found on buddleia and, apart from Reverend E Bankes observation from Durlston in the previous account, there is just one other (old) record from Charmouth of larvae feeding on water figwort (Scrophularia aquatica). There are no records from sandy soils. The late dates below are of interest as both the Striped Lychnis²²¹⁹ and the Water Betony²²²⁰ fly slightly later than this species; all three species are very difficult to tell apart. The first example was trapped in a very late season following the severe winter of 1962/1963: Iwerne Minster, on 1 July 1963 (H Moore), West Bexington, on 19 June 1995, 18 June 1996, 4 July 2001(R Eden).

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