Species Account
Distribution
Summary Data
Season (Adult / Immature):
|
National Status: Common Local Status: Very common and fairly widespread resident. Local Record: Grade 2 See here for explanation Flight time: One generation, Jun-Jul, (partial Aug-Sep). Forewing: 13-15mm. Foodplant: Grasses. |
Record breakdown:
VC9 | VC5 | VC11 | Region | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Year first recorded | 1905 | 2007 | 1985 | 1905 |
Year last recorded | 2011 | 2008 | 2011 | 2011 |
Number of records | 4025 | 2 | 151 | 8356 |
Number of individuals | 16843 | 6 | 270 | 34238 |
Unique positions | 390 | 2 | 24 | 832 |
Unique locations | 280 | 1 | 20 | 602 |
Adult records | 3482 | 2 | 149 | 7266 |
Immature records | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
For the region, we have a total of 8356 records from 602 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1905.
Photos
Species Account
For further information refer UK Moths.
Davey, P., 2009: A widespread species in southern Britain, more local further north, the larva feeding nocturnally on false brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum) and tor-grass (Brachypodium pinnatum). In Dorset, the moth is common in woodland where false brome occurs, and in fens and river valley habitat. It is largely absent from heathland and elsewhere in open, dry situations. The moth is double brooded in the county with the peak of the second brood nearly twice the size, on average, as the peak of the first. A relatively large number of records between mid-September and mid-October suggest a partial third brood in most years. The warm summer of 2003 spawned particularly strong second and third broods with some notably high totals, and dispersal or immigration may account for some of the following examples appearing at light traps in dry grassland biotypes: Portland, fifty-five between 6 and 9 August 2003, five on 26 September 2003 (M Cade), Shapwick, forty-six on 21 September 2003 (P Davey), Swanage, thirteen on 8 August 2003 (R Cox).
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