Status
Morley's Final Catalogue: The patchy distribution is surely owing merely to lack of March observers; probably common in all birch-woods. The collective 'Brepha' - as the genus is actually spelled by Stephens (Catalog. Brit. Insects 1829, p. 113) - was a Moth well-known to the Victorian workingmen-collectors of Ipswich. Several about Ipswich on 27 March 1861 (Tim Last, Ent. Wk. Intell. x, 27); somewhat common outside Bentley Woods in 1899 (Platten), 1936 (Bp.) and 1894-5, and on Foxhall heath (Mly). West Stow Wood (Suff. Inst. iv, 1870, 221); Mildenhall. Worlingham (Crf); many at Blythburgh Wood on 22 March 1936 (Btn); Herringfleet on 22 March 1936 (D, Mr).
Recent Suffolk Status: Local, mainly on heathland with larger Birch trees and some woodland sites.
Life history: Single brooded in the spring. Adults fly high around Birch on warm sunny days. They can been seen much closer feeding on moisture around puddles on tracks near the foodplant trees and at blossoming trees like Sallow and Blackthorn.
Identification: Male Light orange underwing has lightly feathered antennae, Orange underwing has finely serrated antennae. Orange underwing has more white on the forewing than Light orange underwing and is usually browner in colour. The underside of the hindwing of Light Orange underwing has an unbroken outer dark band, this band is broken by an orange patch in Orange underwing.
Habitat: Mainly wooded heathlands in the Brecks and Sandlings, plus some woods which contain good areas of Birch.Recorded in 22 (38%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1861.
Last Recorded in 2024. |