Species Account

Select species and region:

Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Common

Local Status: Abundant and widespread resident.

Local Record: Grade 1 See here for explanation

Flight time: One generation, Jun-Aug, (Sep-Oct).

Forewing: 14-16mm.

Foodplant: Herbaceous plants.

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	VC8	VC5	VC11	Region
Year first recorded	1905	2008	2007	1970	1905
Year last recorded	2011	2008	2007	2011	2011
Number of records	6451	1	1	371	13648
Number of individuals	24787	1	15	1135	51876
Unique positions	462	1	1	31	990
Unique locations	319	1	1	27	696
Adult records	5879	1	1	369	12500
Immature records	0	0	0	0	0

For the region, we have a total of 13648 records from 696 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 polyphagous larva feeding on the withered or mouldy fallen leaves of deciduous trees, shrubs and grasses, plus a variety of low-growing herbaceous plants including knotgrass (Polygonum spp.), chickweed (Stellaria spp.), dandelion (Taraxacum agg.) and dock (Rumex spp.). In Dorset, the moth is ubiquitous and often abundant, occurring in practically every habitat type. Of the four thousand plus Riband Waves trapped at Arne Wood between 1974 and 1995, 24% were of the typical banded form, and 76 % referred to the plain form, ab. remutata.

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