Species Account

Select species and region:

Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Common

Local Status: Fairly common and widespread resident.

Local Record: Grade 1 See here for explanation

Flight time: One generation, Sep-Nov.

Forewing: 17-20mm.

Foodplant: Hawthorns, Blackthorn, Dog-rose, Crab Apple.

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	1987	1905
Year last recorded	2011	1987	2011
Number of records	1143	1	2288
Number of individuals	3006	1	6014
Unique positions	92	1	186
Unique locations	80	1	162
Adult records	981	1	1964
Immature records	1	0	2

For the region, we have a total of 2288 records from 162 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1905.

Photos

Species Account

For further information refer UK Moths.

Davey, P., 2009: A widespread species in Britain, the larva feeding on blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) and hawthorn (Crataegus spp.). In Dorset, the moth is common amongst hawthorn and blackthorn, and locally abundant among blackthorn thickets on coastal undercliffs; it is largely absent from open heathland and scrub-free habitats. The industrial melanic, ab. capucina is seldom seen; "the variation in Dorset consists in the greater or lesser development of the iridescent green scaling, and in the colour of the pale subterminal area, which varies from cream colour to being strongly suffused mars orange. The most striking specimen I have taken is one with the subterminal area cream, and the residue of the wing so heavily clouded with fuscous as almost to obliterate the markings." (W Parkinson Curtis manuscript).

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