Morley’s Final Catalogue: Not listed.

Recent Status: First recognised as a species in 1988 and first recorded in Breckland during 2005.

Life Style: A double brooded species flying from May to August. The larvae feed exclusively on Scabiosa columbaria. They pupate head downwards, on a stem of the foodplant or adjacent vegetation.

Identification: This moth along with S. bipunctidactyla and S. scabiodactylus are virtually inseparable except on the genitalia of the female. The biology of S. annadactyla and S. scabiodactylus are near identical. Both larvae feed on Scabiosa columbaria. They feed in the central rosette in spring causing the leaves to wilt and then feeding on stems. In summer they feed on and in the flowers. S. scabiodactylus has yet to be identified in Suffolk during the modern era but Morley’s comments on S. bipunctidactyla, on the var plagiodactylus suggests a possibility in the past unless this too was S. annadactyla. S. bipuntidactyla larvae feed on Succisa and Knautia with a different feeding method. Anyone wishing to record these three species as adults anywhere near Breckland or S. annadactyla or S. scabiodactylus as larvae, should refer to Colin Hart’s book and provide the appropriate evidence.

Verification Grade Comment: Breckland only

	Determination by Genitalia Examination (gen. det.) Required

Recorded in 1 (2%) of 58 10k Squares. First Recorded in 2004. Last Recorded in 2021. Additional Stats

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