Morley's Final Catalogue: A south and central European species, occurring in Britain only in Norfolk and with us, where its range curiously coincides with that of E.trabealis, since the late Henry Lingwood discovered it at Needham Market, where it seems now extinct. Otherwise it exists solely in the Breck:- '' A large number of the larvae of Lithostege nivearia, not long included in the British catalogue, taken on Sisymbrium Sophia, which is the commonest cornweed in the Breck District, hence the abundance'' of the moths (Wratislaw, Suff. Inst. 4ly Journ. Jan. 1869, 23; cf. Suff. Inst. iv, 1870, 219). Levelly distributed over the district, where those who want it muct come from all Britain (and they do!): Brandon (Stainton 1859 to Hawley 1937).

Recent Suffolk Status: Very local in the Breck, with occasional records away from the core area. Ones near the coast could be migrants, whilst those inland probably originate from the Breck populations.
A species subject to recent conservation work in the Brecks with areas of disturbed ground created close to existing populations.

Life history: Single-brooded. Occasional at light and also can be disturbed from the sward near to patches of the foodplant. Larvae have been found in the county on Flixweed.

Identification: Unmistakeable.

Habitat: Edges of arable fields, waste ground and other areas of disturbed soils where the foodplant grows in the Breck region.

Recorded in 16 (28%) of 58 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1940. Last Recorded in 2023. Additional Stats

Exit Recorder