Species Account

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Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Nb

Local Status: Rare and local resident.

Local Record: Grade 3 See here for explanation

Flight time: May-Aug.

Forewing: 10-12mm.

Foodplant: Pedunculate Oak.

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	1992	1905
Year last recorded	2008	1997	2008
Number of records	9	4	26
Number of individuals	36	32	136
Unique positions	9	4	26
Unique locations	7	3	20
Adult records	3	1	8
Immature records	5	2	14

For the region, we have a total of 26 records from 20 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1905.

Photos

Species Account

For further information refer UK Moths.

Davey, P., 2009: A species restricted to central and southern England, the larva feeding and overwintering once within the cambium of oak (Quercus spp.) and, less frequently, birch (Betula spp.) trees. Eggs are laid out of preference on stumps of oak trees that have been felled the previous year. The resultant larva creates galleries by slowly feeding on the cambium layer through the autumn. During the spring 'sawdust' frass may be visible on the stump surface. Larvae of all sizes co-exist and the different development rates lead to a protracted emergence period stretching from May through to August. Occasionally adults may be seen flying in numbers around the oak stumps, especially in hot sunshine. In Dorset, the moth is rarely looked for, and the records undoubtedly understate its frequency. The species seems to prosper in oak woodland where coppicing and occasional felling of mature oak and birch is undertaken, but such practices have now all but died out, and colonies have proved hard to find in recent years. Conservation measures should include the maintenance of viable coppiced oak woodland in the county.

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