Noctuidae : Xyleninae
  Prev | Next  
Photo © Neil Sherman,  Loch Rannoch, Perthshire, Scotland. September 2019

Similar Suffolk Species
Red Sword-grass
Xylena vetusta
Golden-rod Brindle
Xylena solidaginis
Upload a Photo
 
Sword-grass
Xylena exsoleta

(Linnaeus, 1758) 2242 / 73.208

Morley's Final Catalogue: Somewhat scarce; usually singly. Sudbury; Copdock, Ipswich, Bixley, Waldringfield; Stowmarket, bred at Monks Soham; Bury, Tuddenham, Mildenhall; Worlingham, on sugar on Gorleston cliff.

Recent Status: Extinct as a resident in the county. Just two recent records of immigrant moths light-trapped on the coast: Reydon on 20.09.2003 (A. Cornish) and at Bawdsey Hall on the very late date of 28.12.2018 (M.J. Deans).

Identification: A greyer moth than Red Sword-grass Xylena vetusta, lacking many of the red tones in the wings of that species. The clinching feature is the pale straw-coloured foot of hind leg (black in vetusta).

Retained Specimen / Photograph will be Required.

Recorded in 4 (7%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1922.
Last Recorded in 2018.
Additional Stats

< Golden-rod Brindle  |  Red Sword-grass >

Determination
List Species Records   [Show All Latest]
Latest 5 Records
Date#VC10k Area
28/12/2018125TM33 - Bawdsey/Felixstowe
20/09/2003+25TM57 - Southwold
1952126TL77 - Mildenhall
05/10/1922125TG50 - Gorleston
Show Details | 1990 to 2022 | 2000 to 2022 | Graph Key
Express Record Sword-grass
We need your records!
Do you have records of Sword-grass?
Put your own dot on the map!

Copyright © Jim Wheeler 2023
   

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Forewing: 24-29mm.
Flight: Sept-April. (hibernates)
Foodplant:   Thistles, Creeping Cinquefoil, Common Restharrow, others
Red List: Least Concern (LC)
GB Status: Nationally Scarce
BAP Status: Priority Species
Former Status: Nationally Scarce B
Verification Grade:  Adult: 3
 Immature Adult
     
Underlying maps using Digital Map Data © Norfolk Online Lepidoptera Archive - NOLA™ - Suffolk 2023. © James Wheeler - Norfolk Moths 2007 - 2023. Data © NOLA™ - Suffolk 2023
We use cookies to personalise content and enhance your experience. By clicking OK or using this site, you consent to the use of cookies unless you disable them. Cookies Policy