Species Account

Select species and region:

Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Nb

Local Status: Uncommon and restricted resident.

Local Record: Grade 3 See here for explanation

Flight time: Two generations, Mar-Apr, and mainly Jun-Sep.

Forewing: 13-15mm.

Foodplant: Heather and Cross-leaved Heath.

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	1970	1986	1970
Year last recorded	2011	2011	2011
Number of records	1617	127	3488
Number of individuals	7981	892	17746
Unique positions	191	20	422
Unique locations	109	15	248
Adult records	1585	122	3414
Immature records	2	3	10

For the region, we have a total of 3488 records from 248 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1970.

Photos

Species Account

For further information refer UK Moths.

Davey, P., 2009: A local species restricted to the lowland heaths of southern England, the larva feeding on heather (Erica spp.). In Dorset, the moth is common to abundant on heathland. The moth has been observed in every month except December. The species appears to be double brooded, the first brood flying from mid-March to late April, with a second in July and August; the second brood is appreciably larger in number than the first. A significant number of moths are also on the wing during September right through to mid-October, and these may constitute a partial third brood. Occasionally, the Horse Chestnut is trapped at light well away from heather terrain, and these are likely to refer to dispersed individuals from the Poole Basin: Walditch on 21 July 2003 (M Parsons), Portland, on 18 October 1997, 25 July 1999 (M Cade), St Albans Head, on 11 August 1986, 7 August 1992 (P Davey). The recommendation for conservation agencies that manage heathland sites is to include this species in management plans and maintain a vibrant mosaic of different-aged heather communities on dry heathland blocks for it.

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