Species Account
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. |
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.
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