Status
Morley’s Final Catalogue: A south English species, extending north to only Norfolk. Excepting a single individual that was captured at Ipswich in 1896 (Pyett), this moth occurs here solely on the chalk-sands of the Breck (Bernard Harwood) where it is abundant in late May at
Freckenham, Eriswell (Mly), Elveden (Williams), Tuddenham (Wrn), Brandon (Barrett), &c.
Recent Status: A regular Breckland species.
Life Style: A species flying early in the season with a peak in early June. The moth is single brooded and flies at night coming to light. The larvae feed from silken tubes in which they pupate following hibernation. They feed on grasses and moss.
Identification: The moth has a white forewing with variable sometimes dense speckling of dark brown or black scales between the veins resulting in a sharply streaked appearance. There is a rounded brown sub-terminal line which is obtusely angled. There is a diffuse brown median line. The cilia are metallic. There are possible confusion species that are rare immigrants. These can be separated by the appearance of the lines.Recorded in 10 (17%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1896.
Last Recorded in 2023. |