Species Account

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Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Local

Local Status: Common and widespread resident.

Local Record: Grade 2 See here for explanation

Flight time: Two generations, May-Jun, Jul-Aug.

Forewing: 13-15mm

Foodplant: Sallows, Willows, Sea Buckthorn, Alder.

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	VC5	VC11	Region
Year first recorded	1905	2007	1982	1905
Year last recorded	2011	2007	2011	2011
Number of records	2330	1	145	4952
Number of individuals	4230	6	321	9114
Unique positions	313	1	20	668
Unique locations	221	1	18	480
Adult records	1995	1	144	4280
Immature records	1	0	0	2

For the region, we have a total of 4952 records from 480 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1905.

Photos

Species Account

Similar species: 1889 Macaria notata (Peacock Moth).

For further information refer UK Moths.

Davey, P., 2009: A local species confined to southern England, the larva feeding on sallow (Salix spp.), blackthorn (Prunus spp.), sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), and alder (Alnus spp.). In Dorset, the moth is common wherever sallow and blackthorn grows and has been recorded from most localities across the county. The national norm is for a single brood, but in Dorset the moth appears to have two brood cycles, a single brood in late June and a double brood in early June and early August.

Diagnostics include: sharply indented notch on the edge of the forewing; notch prominently edged with black (not lightly edged with brown); greyish ground colour (not white); smaller black 'paw-print' on forewing; often with broad grey banding on wings.

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