Species Account

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Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Local

Local Status: Scarce and local resident.

Local Record: Grade 3 See here for explanation

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

Forewing: 11-14mm.

Foodplant: Marsh Bedstraw, Heath Bedstraw

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	1927	1983	1927
Year last recorded	2010	2010	2010
Number of records	117	10	254
Number of individuals	176	18	388
Unique positions	36	9	90
Unique locations	31	7	76
Adult records	116	10	252
Immature records	0	0	0

For the region, we have a total of 254 records from 76 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1927.

Photos

Species Account

For further information refer UK Moths.

Davey, P., 2009: A local species in Britain, the larva feeding on common marsh-bedstraw (Galium palustre) and fen bedstraw (Galium uliginosum). In Dorset, the moth colonises three wetland habitat types where it tends to be at low density. Firstly: river valley habitat such as Milton-on Stour, Christchurch on the River Stour, Wool on the River Frome, Iwerne Minster on the River Iwerne, Trigon Ford on the River Piddle and Wareham Meadows. Secondly: inland mire or marsh habitat on sandy soil such as Stoborough Heath, Middlebere Heath and Studland Heath; thirdly estuarine marsh, coastal marsh or lagoon habitat such as is found at or near West Bexington, Radipole, Lodmoor, Arne Bay, Brownsea Island and Hengistbury Head.

The following were recorded from light traps in localities where the species tends not to occur and are thought to be dispersed individuals from core habitat in south-east England or immigrants from the Continent: Portland, on 9 August 2003 (M Cade), Puddletown, on 13 August 2003 (H Wood Homer), Woolland, on 6 August 2003 (P Benham), Trigon, on 11 August 2003 (C Manley). Many other wetland species appeared in unlikely localities across the county during the intense heatwave that afflicted western Europe during August 2003.

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