Species Account

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Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Common

Local Status: Scarce and thinly distributed or restricted resident.

Local Record: Grade 2 See here for explanation

Flight time: One generation, Jun-Aug, (Sep).

Forewing: 17-20mm.

Foodplant: Delphiniums and Larkspur.

Regional breakdown:

	VC61	VC62	VC63	VC64	VC65
Year first recorded	1929	1901	1926	1957	1979
Year last recorded	2014	2013	2014	2014	2014
Number of records	76	43	127	223	12
Number of individuals	48	24	110	251	13
Unique positions	27	21	39	63	3
Unique locations	30	22	40	65	3
Adult records	65	33	110	203	12
Immature records	0	0	0	6	0

For the county, we have a total of 481 records from 160 sites. First recorded in 1901.

Photos

Species Account

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: First recorded in Yorkshire in 1901 (YNU, 1970 suppl.), this species became quite widespread in suburban areas but seems to have declined again slightly. Recorded quite frequently from all five vice-counties but rare away from gardens. In Meanwood, Leeds (VC64) larvae were found on Delphiniums only a year after being grown from seed, a rapid colonisation! (GB pers. comm.).

2012 (CHF): Not a common moth in the county with about ten records per year, virtually all from gardens growing delphiniums. Almost all records are of single moths. There are surprisingly few records of larvae on the database. Occasional records in September are suggestive of a partial second generation.

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

Yorkshire Moths
A guide to the moths of VC61-65