Species Account

Select species and region:

Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Common

Local Status: Fairly common and fairly widespread resident.

Local Record: Grade 1 See here for explanation

Flight time: One generation, Jun-Aug.

Forewing: 15-19mm.

Foodplant: Common Bird's-foot-trefoil.

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	1916	1995	1916
Year last recorded	2011	2011	2011
Number of records	331	11	684
Number of individuals	12140	131	24542
Unique positions	177	8	370
Unique locations	138	8	292
Adult records	261	11	544
Immature records	14	0	28

For the region, we have a total of 684 records from 292 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1916.

Photos

Species Account

For further information refer UK Moths.

Davey, P., 2009: A species with a wide distribution across the British Isles, the larva feeding on common bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). In Dorset, the moth can be found in most situations where the plant grows. It is locally abundant on dry unimproved grassland, verges, embankments and undercliffs, where it may often be seen sitting on hardhead (Centaurea nigra) and field scabious (Knautia arvensis) flower-heads. Elsewhere, it is decidedly local and colonies are usually small and discrete. Adults seem to emerge over a protracted period and may be seen on the wing at any time between the end of May and the middle of August.

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