Species Account

Select species and region:

Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Nationally Scarce B

Local Status: Scarce and thinly distributed and restricted resident.

Local Record: Grade 3 See here for explanation

Flight time: Late Jul-early Sep.

Forewing: 12-13mm.

Foodplant: Wavy Hair-grass.

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	1917	1999	1917
Year last recorded	2010	2010	2010
Number of records	42	8	100
Number of individuals	95	10	210
Unique positions	36	5	82
Unique locations	29	5	68
Adult records	35	8	86
Immature records	0	0	0

For the region, we have a total of 100 records from 68 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1917.

Photos

Species Account

For further information refer UK Moths.

Davey, P., 2009: A local species in England and southern Scotland, the larval foodplant is unknown. In Dorset, the moth is confined to mainly dry heathland blocks within the Poole Basin where it is abundant very locally, and in these situations the foodplants may well fine-leaved grass species such as bristle bent (Agrostis curtisii) or wavy hair-grass (Deschampsia flexuosa).

The moth occasionally disperses over short to medium distances. The following light trap records refer: Chilfrome, on 20 August 2006 (S Philp), Badbury Rings, three on 4 September 2005 (P Davey), Shapwick on 20 August 2000 and on 22 August 2003 (P Davey). This example was trapped on a rather late date: Morden Bog, on 11 October 1996 (P Davey). Conservation agencies should include this species in habitat management plans for sites containing dry heathland.

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