Species Account

Select species and region:

Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Common

Local Status: Uncommon and thinly distributed or restricted resident.

Local Record: Grade 1 See here for explanation

Flight time: One generation, Aug-Sep.

Forewing: 16-22mm.

Foodplant: Grasses.

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	1905	1983	1905
Year last recorded	2011	2011	2011
Number of records	382	137	1038
Number of individuals	1794	301	4190
Unique positions	100	9	218
Unique locations	89	7	192
Adult records	371	137	1016
Immature records	0	0	0

For the region, we have a total of 1038 records from 192 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1905.

Photos

Species Account

For further information refer UK Moths.

Davey, P., 2009: A widespread species in England, the larva feeding on hard-bladed grasses notably mat-grass (Nardus stricta), sheep's fescue (Festuca ovina) and annual meadow grass (Poa annua). In Dorset, the moth is at low density, but locally abundant on unimproved calcareous grassland and frequent on dry heaths. Given these preferred habitats, sheep's fecscue (Festuca ovina), fine-leaved sheep's fescue (Festuca filiformis) and tufted hair-grass are likely food sources.

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