Species Account

Select species and region:

Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Local

Local Status: Uncommon and thinly distributed resident.

Local Record: Grade 2 See here for explanation

Flight time: Jun-Jul.

Forewing: 22-26mm.

Foodplant: Herbaceous plants, including Common Comfrey, Hemp-agrimony, Stinging Nettle, Bramble, Honeysuckle and Meadowsweet.

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	1994	1905
Year last recorded	2011	2011	2011
Number of records	293	8	602
Number of individuals	1132	11	2286
Unique positions	141	2	286
Unique locations	113	3	232
Adult records	259	8	534
Immature records	24	0	48

For the region, we have a total of 602 records from 232 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1905.

Photos

Species Account

For further information refer UK Moths.

Davey, P., 2009: A local and decreasing species confined to the south-west corner of Britain and a few coastal sites in east Kent, the larva feeding on many plants, shrubs and trees. The adult tends to fly in sunshine, but is occasionally active on the warmest summer nights when it is readily attracted to light traps. In Dorset, the moth is resident in a range of different biotypes. It is locally common within unimproved water meadows, edges of rivers, streams and ditches, wet woods and occasionally on dry verges or field edges where its primary foodplant common comfrey (Symphytum officinale) abounds. Scattered colonies also occur on chalky soil where hemp agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum) or privet (Ligustrum vulgare) hosts the caterpillar. Larvae have been found feeding on a range of different plants. Unusual food sources include: a final instar larva eating its way through a large spongy oak gall at Stubhampton Bottom, on 19 May 2002, and, more than one hundred larvae feeding on the blossom of gorse (Ulex spp.) on Knowle Hill near Corfe Castle on 7 April 1999 (P Davey).

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