Species Account
Distribution
Summary Data
Season (Adult / Immature):
|
National Status: Local Local Status: Scarce and restricted resident. Local Record: Grade 3 See here for explanation Flight time: May-Jul. Forewing: 15-20mm. Foodplant: Heathers and Broom. |
Record breakdown:
VC9 | VC11 | Region | |
---|---|---|---|
Year first recorded | 1985 | 1983 | 1983 |
Year last recorded | 2010 | 2011 | 2011 |
Number of records | 65 | 24 | 178 |
Number of individuals | 153 | 87 | 480 |
Unique positions | 32 | 11 | 86 |
Unique locations | 28 | 9 | 74 |
Adult records | 64 | 24 | 176 |
Immature records | 0 | 0 | 0 |
For the region, we have a total of 178 records from 74 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1983.
Photos
Species Account
For further information refer UK Moths.
Davey, P., 2009: A local species occurring in England, Wales and southern Scotland, the larva feeding on heather (Calluna spp.), heath (Erica spp.), broom (Cytisus scoparius) and gorse (Ulex europaeus). In Dorset, the moth is common very locally. It has been noted in some but not all heathland blocks; some where broom is found, such as Ashington and Merley, Parley Common and Matchams, and others such as Gold Point on the Arne peninsular and Decoy Heath where there is no broom. The Grass Wave occupies an additional, rather different biotype in the county, namely old grassland on ill-drained clay soil at Rooksmoor in the Blackmoor Vale. Here, a thriving colony exists but where none of its stated foodplants occur. Dyer's greenweed (Genista tinctoria), which is abundant at the site, is a likely food-source for the larvae. Old records from nearby Glanville's Wootton and Caundle's Holt suggest that the moth was more widespread in the past, presumably at a time when large areas of neutral unimproved grassland existed. Continued monitoring of this moth is recommended at the Rooksmoor SSSI. Light winter grazing appears to be important to maintaining good stocks of dyer's greenweed at the site.
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