1864       Chesias legatella [Denis & Schiffermüller 1775]   STREAK

A widespread species in Britain, the larva feeding on broom (Cytisus scoparius). Broom is a local and decreased plant species confined to sandy soil in Dorset where it forms small, scattered communities on heathland, and otherwise is grown as an ornamental shrub in gardens in towns. The moth is very local, at low density, and recorded almost exclusively where broom is most frequent. Repeat records have been noted from Furzebrook, Ashington, Merley, Canford Heath, Parley Common, St Ives and Matchams.

Occasionally, moths appear in atypical localities where broom is not found, particularly on or close to the coastal belt between Portland and Purbeck. A continental source is suspected for the following light trap records given the onshore airflows at the time: Portland, 27 October 2001 (M Cade), Shaggs, 10 November 2003 (BC), Durlston, five between 27 and 28 October (Dr J Clarke, P Davey), Scar Bank, 16 and 22 October 1938, 23 October 1953 (A Russell).

1865       Chesias rufata (Fabricius, 1775)   BROOM-TIP     Notable/Nb

A local species in Britain, the larva feeding on broom (Cytisus scoparius). The moth has been recorded from a single dry heathland locality in east Dorset where broom grows in numbers on the embankments of the A338 trunk road nearby, but was seen only during the first year of recording at the site, and in none of the eight subsequent years. The Broom-tip is therefore considered to have a transitory resident status in Dorset. Broom colonises disturbed acid soils or burnt heath. The reduction in open heath through building, farming and afforestation, plus the cessation of disturbance to heathland to encourage regeneration through burning and grazing, has undoubtedly reduced stocks of this beautiful and valuable plant. In the absence of viable stocks of the host flora, it is difficult to envisage colonies of the Broom-tip becoming permanently established in the county: Matchams, ten at MV light between 24 April 1984 and 9 May 1984 (G Le Pard).

1867       Aplocera plagiata (Linnaeus, 1758)   TREBLE-BAR

A widespread species in Britain, the larva feeding on st. john’s-wort (Hypericum spp.). In Dorset, the moth has been observed, seldom commonly, where st. john’s-wort grows in abundance, across the five distinct habitat types below. Both this and the next species are easily flushed from their foodplants during the day.

1         Dry grassland containing perforate st john’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum)

2         Dry woodland rides on chalky soil containing perforate st john’s-wort and hairy st john’s-wort (Hypericum hirsutum)  

3         Dry woodland rides on sandy soil containing perforate st john’s-wort, slender st john’s-wort (Hypericum pulchrum) and trailing st john’s-wort (Hypericum humifusum)

4         Wet woodland, rivers, marshes and ditches containing square-stalked st john’s-wort (Hypericum tetrapterum)

5         Pools, bogs, acid streamlets and ditches and old claypits containing marsh st john’s-wort (Hypericum tetrapterum) 

1868       Aplocera efformata (Guenée, 1857)   LESSER TREBLE-BAR

A frequent species across southern England, but local in northern England and Wales, the larva feeding on st john’s-wort (Hypericum spp.). In Dorset, the moth has been recorded from the same range of habitat types as the Treble-bar₁₈₆₇. Localities where both species have occurred are as follows. 

1         West Bexington, Woolgarston, West Blagdon, Durlston

2         Chase Woods, Gaunt's Common, Stubhampton Bottom, Iwerne Minster

3         Ashington

4         Arne, Hurn, Boys Wood, Bloxworth Wood

5         Brownsea Island, Holt Heath, Holton Heath Marsh

Diagnostics include: paler ground colour; inner dark ‘bar’resembles flag and flag-pole rather than hockey-stick.

1870       Odezia atrata (Linnaeus, 1758)   CHIMNEY SWEEPER

A common species in northern and western Britain, but very local in south-eastern England, the larva feeding on the flowers and seeds of pignut (Conopodium majus). In Dorset, this sooty-black day-flying moth is very local despite the foodplant being common in woods and locally abundant in old pastures and parks.  Recent records suggest a distribution that is restricted to two discrete areas. The first is old, damp pasture on the Lulworth Ranges and on Corfe Common where pignut is abundant; the second is dry grassland on chalky soils in north-east Dorset where pignut is common very locally, such as along the summit of Melbury Down. It has yet to be recorded from woodland and this suggests that, like the Argent and Sable₁₇₈₇ and Drab Looper₁₈₇₈, the Chimney Sweeper relishes open, sunlit situations.

1872       Discoloxia blomeri (Curtis, 1832)   BLOMER'S RIVULET     Notable/Nb

A local single-brooded species confined to central and western England and to Wales, the larva feeding on wych elm (Ulmus glabra). In Dorset, the following individuals were trapped at light in a locality where wych elm is frequent. However, the dates on which they were caught were six weeks later than the usual resident brood. A significant immigration took place towards the end of July 1948. The three Blomer’s Rivulets are suspected of being part of that immigration:  Bradford Peverill, two at light on 4 August 1948, on 5 August 1948 (A Russell).

1874       Euchoeca nebulata (Scopoli, 1763)   DINGY SHELL

A species found locally in England and Wales, the larva feeding on alder (Alnus spp.). In Dorset, the moth is common in valley swamps where alder is dominant, for example at Powerstock Common and St Leonards Peats, and along rivers valleys such as the Moors River. The national norm is a single brood in June and early July.  In Dorset, an additional double brood cycle is evident with peaks in May and August. The moth is very rarely encountered far from its core habitat, but records from inland and coastal localities some distance from wetland hint at a tendency to disperse over medium distances occasionally.

1875       Asthena albulata (Hufnagel, 1767)   SMALL WHITE WAVE

A widespread species in Britain, the larva feeding on hazel (Corylus avellana), birch (Betula spp.) and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus).  In Dorset, the moth is locally abundant in oak and ash woodland on chalky soils where hazel is the dominant understorey shrub. The moth is seldom encountered far from hazel-rich habitat, in fact the absence of records from areas where birch is dominant suggests that birch is not a potential foodplant for the species in the county. Occasional short to medium range dispersal is evidenced by an individual trapped at West Bexington on 26 June 1995 (R Eden) during a north-easterly airflow. The national norm is for a partial second brood, but in Dorset the moth appears to be double-brooded. The first brood is, on average, three times larger than the first.

1876       Hydrelia flammeolaria (Hufnagel, 1767)   SMALL YELLOW WAVE

A common species in southern Britain, the larva feeding on maple (Acer spp.), but more local further north where the larva feeds on alder (Alnus spp.). In Dorset, the moth is associated with deciduous woodland on chalky soil and here it is usually frequent. However, it is locally common in damp deciduous woodland on acid and clay soils, for example at Oakers Wood, Holt Forest, Trigon Ford and Arne Wood. In this biotype maple is largely absent, and alder or birch (Betula spp.) may host larvae at these sites. The moth has also also been recorded from coastal locations where there are few deciduous trees: St Alban’s Head, Portland Bird Observatory and West Bexington.

1877       Hydrelia sylvata [Denis & Schiffermüller 1775]   WAVED CARPET     Notable/Nb

A local species restricted to southern and western Britain, the larva feeding on birch (Betula spp.), alder (Alnus spp.), sallow (Salix spp.) and sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa). In Dorset, the moth is resident and evidently well established in the valley swamps of Powerstock Common where alder is dominant. Elsewhere, there is a single record from Monkton Wyld Wood in the far west of Dorset. Searches have failed to detect the moth in potential habitat elsewhere. Continued monitoring of this moth is recommended at Powerstock. The following example, a suspected immigrant, was recorded as warm south-east to easterly winds blew in from northern France: Scar Bank, at light on 12 July 1946 (AGBR).

1878       Minoa murinata (Scopoli, 1763)   DRAB LOOPER     Notable/Nb

A local species limited to southern Britain, the larva feeding on wood spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides). In Dorset, this day-flying woodland species is now restricted to a handful of woods on chalky soil in the north-east of the county. In these sites wood spurge is common to abundant, but similar woods on calcareous clay soils containing good stocks of the foodplant have so far failed to yield the moth. It is noticeable that many of these latter woods are less open, occasionally derelict, whereas the former woods have substantial sunny rides and are subject to forestry activity. There are historical records from Bere Wood and Milton Park Wood. The Drab Looper appears to flourish in open well-lit woodland, and it is likely that unmanaged, total canopy woodland is detrimental to the fortunes of this species. It is to be hoped that the resurgence of coppicing at SSSI woodland sites such as at Garston Wood will provide suitable conditions for colonisation over time.

1879       Lobophora halterata (Hufnagel, 1767)   SERAPHIM

A widely distributed species in Britain, the larva feeding on aspen (Populus tremens).  In Dorset, the moth is local due to the scarcity of aspen communities. However, colonies of the moth are established in Three Acre Wood at Studland and in Castle Hill Wood near Edmonsham.  Records of the moth well away from aspen trees indicate that that the larvae feeds on alternative poplar species such as white poplar (Populus alba) and black poplar (Populus nigra).  The trap at Hurn operates beneath a grove of mature black poplar trees and the nearest aspen colony is several kilometers away.  Nearly one fifth of all Seraphims recorded in Dorset have been recorded at Hurn.

1880       Trichopteryx polycommata [Denis & Schiffermüller 1775]  BARRED TOOTH-STRIPED     Notable/Na

A local and decreasing species in England and western Scotland, the larva feeding on privet (Ligustrum vulgare) and ash (Fraxinus spp.). In Dorset, this retiring and elusive moth is restricted to very small numbers on  a single unimproved chalk downland site where moderate stocks of mature privet grow amongst deciduous scrub. Although ash is a common tree elsewhere across the county, the absence of records from ash-rich habitat makes it doubtful that this is an alternative foodplant in the county. Historically, the moth has been seen at three other locations in north-east Dorset, Iwerne Minster, Tarrant Gunville and Badbury Rings. Records from the latter site occurred at a time when the monument was covered in scrub. This is not the case today as scrub has been reduced to 1% of the total site area by the National Trust as a direct result of giving priority to the archaeological features of the site. Scrub removal from open downland and coniferisation of deciduous woodland on chalky soils over much of north-east Dorset in the latter half of the twentieth century has undoubtedly reduced the once extensive wild privet-scrub habitat available, and the moth has all but disappeared as a consequence. The agency who manage the site hosting the present colony have taken steps to ensure that the existing mature stands of privet are not removed as part of downland management initiatives.

1881       Trichopteryx carpinata (Borkhausen, 1794)   EARLY TOOTH-STRIPED

A widespread species in Britain, the larva feeding on birch (Betula spp.), sallow (Salix spp.), alder (Alnus spp.) and honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.). In Dorset, the moth is common amongst the birch/heather terrain on sandy soil, mature birch growing in woodland on chalky soil in north-east Dorset, and in the valley swamps of Powerstock Common where alder is dominant. The moth is seldom encountered well away from these core heathland and wetland habitat types.

1882       Pterapherapteryx sexalata (Retzius, 1783)   SMALL SERAPHIM

A frequent species in southern England, more local further north, the larva feeding on sallow (Salix spp.). In Dorset, the moth is frequent to common in damp sallow-rich localities such as Studland Heath, Arne, Stoborough Heath, Holt Heath, Holton Heath Marsh, Parley Common, Hurn and Hengistbury Head.  An extended flight time of four months, is suspected of comprising a single brood with a peak in early July, plus a double brood with peaks in late May and early August. The national norm is for a single brood in northern Britain in June and July and a double brood in the south.

1883       Acasis viretata (Hübner, 1799)   YELLOW-BARRED BRINDLE

A widespread species in Britain, the larva feeding on the flowers and buds of ivy (Hedera helix), holly (Ilex aquifolium), privet (Ligustrum vulgare) and dogwood (Cornus sanguinea). In Dorset, the moth occurs in three different habitat types. The first of these is coastal situations where ivy festoons rocks on undercliffs and old quarries where privet grows in thickets; the moth is frequent at Durlston and at St Albans Head, for example. The second habitat is towns and villages where garden privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) is planted as hedges near houses; there are many records from light traps run at two sites in Poole and its environs. The third habitat is scrub on chalky soils where privet and dogwood are common, for example, Fontmell Down is a noted locality for the moth.