Species Account

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Distribution

 
 

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Common

Local Status: Fairly common and fairly widespread resident.

Local Record: Grade 2   See here for explanation

Flight time: One generation, Jun-Aug.

Forewing: 16-20mm.

Foodplant: Herbaceous plants.

Regional breakdown:

 VC61VC62VC63VC64VC65
Year first recorded19401930184518861975
Year last recorded20142014201420142014
Number of records216736375152463
Number of individuals17221416593331187
Unique positions4712811717125
Unique locations4511912117322
Adult records206720322149160
Immature records00400

For the county, we have a total of 2914 records from 480 sites. First recorded in 1845.
 

Photos

2122 Purple Clay 04
© John William Cooper
2122 Purple Clay 03
© Nancy Stedman, 2015
2122 Purple Clay 02
© Andy Nunn
2122 Purple Clay 01
© Ian Andrews

Species Account

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Skinner (1984) suggests this species should be 'widespread and common' inhabiting deciduous woodland. Our records suggest it is widespread but found at a low density, only being reasonably common in higher wooded sites.

2012 (CHF): Commonest in upland broadleaved woodland but present at a lower density in other habitats, so the comments in 1989 still apply. An increase in records in the last three years.
 

See background to species accounts.  Index of Vernacular names - Search - Random Species