Species Account

Select species and region:

Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Common

Local Status: Scarce and restricted resident.

Local Record: Grade 1 See here for explanation

Flight time: One generation, Jul-Sep.

Forewing: 12-17mm.

Foodplant: Grasses, sedges and rushes.

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	1935	1985	1935
Year last recorded	2011	2011	2011
Number of records	80	3	166
Number of individuals	124	5	258
Unique positions	42	3	90
Unique locations	40	3	86
Adult records	78	3	162
Immature records	0	0	0

For the region, we have a total of 166 records from 86 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1935.

Photos

Species Account

For further information refer UK Moths.

Davey, P., 2009: Widespread in Britain, occasionally reaching plague proportions on acid uplands, the larva feeding on hard-bladed grasses such as mat-grass (Nardus stricta), purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea) and fescues (Festuca spp.). In Dorset, the moth is now seldom recorded. The few records suggest low-density colonies on short-turf chalky soil where sheep's fecscue (Festuca ovina) abounds, and on dry heaths where disturbance has created conditions suitable for fine-leaved sheep's fescue (Festuca filiformis).

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