Status
Morley's Final Catalogue: Somewhat thinly sporadic; certainly rare about Ipswich, where one came to light in 1895 (Pyett). Playford (G); larvae feeding on Silene maritima at Landguard on the shore (Mera, Entom. 1916, 287); Aldeburgh. Coddenham, Needham, Stowmarket, Bury, Brandon and once (Vivian) freely at light in Tuddenham. Gorleston (Mr). Abundant on Dunwich beach, 1937 (Hawley).
Recent Suffolk Status: Local, fairly common along the coast but quite scattered elsewhere in the county.
Life history: Single-brooded, although possibly double-brooded in Suffolk. Seen from April right through till the end of September. Can come to light in large numbers at some vegetated shingle sites e.g. Orfordness.
Identification: Quite a variable species, with some being very plain white with almost no markings whilst others are heavily marked in brown. Could be confused with Sand dart, but that has a longer forewing and a white hindwing without the dark border present in Tawny shears.
Habitat: Vegetated shingle, coastal grassland sites, calcareous grassland, gardens.Recorded in 43 (74%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1895.
Last Recorded in 2023. |