Status
Morley’s Final Catalogue: Apparently local, but certainly very widely distributed, at least in the east: At electric lights in Ipswich during 1895 (Pyett); Aldeburgh (Wrt) ; Dunwich (Hkr); Southwold (Ctw); Easton Broad in late July 1900 (Mly); Lowestoft (Bd) ; at light in Bungay during 1903 (Mn). Brandon (Barrett).
Recent Status: A species that is widely distributed across the county.
Life Style: Acentria ephemerella is a truly aquatic species. The females are normally apterous or nearly so and remain submerged but there is a winged version that is able to spread the species and maintain genetic diversity. The moth flies during summer and will stay over the emergence site. Mating occurs at the water surface. On particular days during the flight period the species will fly widely away from the emergence location and can then be found in high numbers. It is unusual to find the species alive in a trap the following morning and those that are found alive are usually the large winged females. The larvae feed underwater and from a loose spinning on many aquatic plants. They pupate in a submerged cocoon affixed to a stem.
Identification: The small whitish grey brown males are generally found dead in moth traps and often overlooked by moth-ers not familiar with them being moths. The males and larger winged females are of similar appearance. There is no confusion moth species.Recorded in 48 (83%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1895.
Last Recorded in 2023. |