Species Account

Select species and region:


Distribution

 
 

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Local

Local Status: Scarce and local resident.

Local Record: Grade 3   See here for explanation

Flight time: One generation, Jul-Aug

Forewing: 14-15mm.

Foodplant: Wood Small-reed. other grasses.

Regional breakdown:

 VC61VC62VC63VC64VC65
Year first recorded19641975197119051975
Year last recorded20142014201420142014
Number of records2101026737842
Number of individuals481567467090
Unique positions32403310812
Unique locations32383110812
Adult records208986436142
Immature records02000

For the county, we have a total of 799 records from 221 sites. First recorded in 1905.
 

Photos

73.023 Lempke's Gold Spot 05 male (gen det)
© Tony Moverley, 8 Jul 2013
73.023 Lempke's Gold Spot 04
© Damian Money
73.023 Lempke's Gold Spot 03
© Andy Nunn
73.023 Lempke's Gold Spot 02
© Derek Parkinson
73.023 Lempke's Gold Spot 01
© Damian Money

Species Account

Similar species: Gold Spot.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Only relatively recently added to the County list, this species appears to be rather local but recorded from widely scattered areas. It may well be much more frequent than it appears since it is very difficult to distinguish from P. festucae (Linnaeus). However, there are at least four areas where all the Gold Spots which have been checked have proved to be festucae (Spurn, Sheffield, West Melton and Denaby lngs). This would indicate that it is definitely local to some extent. Although a larval foodplant is not given by Lorimer (MBGBI 10) or Skinner (1984), larvae have recently been discovered openly feeding on purple small-reed (J. Fenn per MRB). It might well be worthwhile to search for larvae on this foodplant at suitable sites in Yorkshire.

2012 (CHF): Much less common in the county than Gold Spot and univoltine (unlike Gold Spot) flying mostly in July and August. Rare in the south and east but commoner on the higher ground in the north and west. See Gold Spot for information on separating these two species. Whilst identification is fairly straight forward in most cases, some individuals need dissection in order to be sure.
 

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