Morley's Final Catalogue: Immigrant, isolated specimens have occurred somewhat regularly. Rougham and Finborough Park (Naturalist 1858); Ipswich (Entom. v, 412); Aldeburgh in October 1876 (EMM. 1876, 138); one at Bawdsey cliff on 25 May 1885 (Entom. 1886, 127); Felixstowe on 10 June 1892 (l.c.,xxv,191); Ipswich, three in September 1871; Foxhall Heath and Rickinghall (ante 1890). Sudbury in May 1898(Ransom); [not taken by Nurse near Bury in 1913, as reported: teste Nurse, in lit.;] a specimen at Aldeburgh in 1922 (Trans. ii, 86).
Recent Suffolk Status: A rare immigrant from North Africa and the Mediterranean with five county records up until 2022. There are three records from light-traps: Dunwich Heath on 14.10.2011 (C. Moore), Bawdsey Hall on 03.10.2013 (M.J. Deans) and Lowestoft on 15.10.2018 (A. Wren). There is a further record of one disturbed from rough grassland at Hazelwood Common, near Aldeburgh on 16.10.2018 (J.H. Grant) - the more traditional way of finding this species, which accounted for most of the early records. The other record was a moth seen on flowers at the Suffolk Punch Trust, Hollesley on 12.09.2021 (A. Carpenter).
In late October/early November 2022 there was an unprecedented influx into the UK with large numbers of moths noted. Suffolk produced 35 records of 44 moths, the vast majority of which were daytime observations. The highest number recorded by this method was the 6 seen at Shingle Street on 29.10.2022 (J. Chainey, J. Spence, N. Sherman, M. J. Deans, P. Bryant). There were fewer light trap records and most moths stayed close to the coast with hardly any inland sightings.
Life history: Multi-brooded in its home range. Suffolk records mainly in late autumn.
Identification: Unmistakable.
Habitat: Coastal grassland and waste ground.
Retained Specimen / Photograph will be Required.
Recorded in 15 (26%) of 58 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1858. Last Recorded in 2022. Additional Stats
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