Species Account

Select species and region:

Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Common

Local Status: Uncommon and restricted resident.

Local Record: Grade 2 See here for explanation

Flight time: One generation, May-Jun.

Forewing: M 22-26mm. F 26-31mm.

Foodplant: Heathers, Bilberry, Creeping Willow. Brambles.

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	VC11	Region
Year first recorded	1960	1994	1983	1960
Year last recorded	2011	1994	2011	2011
Number of records	324	1	67	784
Number of individuals	567	1	117	1370
Unique positions	150	1	15	332
Unique locations	114	1	12	254
Adult records	268	1	60	658
Immature records	31	0	5	72

For the region, we have a total of 784 records from 254 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1960.

Photos

Species Account

For further information refer UK Moths.

Davey, P., 2009: A widespread and locally common species in Britain, the larva feeding on a wide range of shrubs and plants. In Dorset, the species is most often seen in open habitats. It is particularly common on heathland and in open grassy tracts in deciduous woodland (eg. Stubhampton Bottom) and scrub (eg. Lyscombe Hill) on chalky soils. The adult male Fox behaves in a similar way to the adult male Oak Eggar¹⁶³⁷, flying strongly over open country during the day.

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