1952       Ematurga atomaria (Linnaeus, 1758) COMMON HEATH

A common species of heathland and moorland in Britain, the larva feeding on heather (Calluna spp.), heath (Erica spp.), trefoil (Lotus spp.), vetch (Vicia spp.) and clover (Trifolium spp.). In Dorset, the moth is locally abundant on heathland, but rare elsewhere. The two sites well away from sandy soil are a disused railway line at Powerstock Common, where ill-drained calcareous clay embankments support trefoils and meadow vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis) plants, and Ackling Dyke, a roman road that comprises a narrow corridor of unimproved dry grassland on chalky soil. These chalky soil colonies produce a more robust and yellower insect than its heathland counterpart. Old records indicate that Common Heath colonies on chalky soil were more widespread in the past. Localities included: Westhays and Morecombelake, both near Charmouth, Sherborne, South Perrott and Tarrant Gunville.

1954       Bupalus piniaria (Linnaeus, 1758) BORDERED WHITE

A species found throughout Britain, the larva feeding on scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and other pine species. In Dorset, this predominantly day flying moth is locally common among scots pine across the Poole Basin and in localities where lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) has been block planted, again across the Poole Basin and elsewhere in localities such as Black Down and Stubhampton Bottom. The following singletons trapped at light in coastal localities well away from pine habitat suggest occasional medium range dispersal: Scar Bank, on 23 June 1939 (A Russell), West Bexington, on 1 July 1994, 30 June 1995 (R Eden), Portland, on 14 July 1996 (M Cade), St Albans Head, on 31 May 1992 (P Davey).

1955       Cabera pusaria (Linnaeus, 1758) COMMON WHITE WAVE

A common species in Britain, the larva feeding on birch (Betula spp.), sallow (Salix spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), alder (Alnus spp.) and other deciduous trees and shrubs. In Dorset, the moth is frequent in deciduous woodland and scrub. Singletons appear elsewhere from time to time. The national norm is of a double brood in southern England and a single brood in northern Britain. The relatively high numbers between the respective double brood peaks in early-June and mid-August suggest an additional univoltine cycle in July. The very few moths seen in October are likely to represent a partial second brood spawned by the univoltine brood.

1956       Cabera exanthemata (Scopoli, 1763) COMMON WAVE

A frequent species in Britain, the larva feeding on sallow (Salix spp.) and aspen (Populus tremens). In Dorset, the moth frequents sallow-rich habitat which is mainly, but not exclusively, in damp situations; it is seldom seen far from sallow-rich habitat. The moth is double brooded in Dorset, but, like the Common White Wave₁₉₅₅, relatively high numbers between the respective brood peaks in late-May and mid-August suggest an additional univoltine cycle. Care is needed to correctly identify this and the preceding species. Diagnostics include: weakly-marked cross lines; smoothly-curved cross lines (not straight).

1957       Lomographa bimaculata (Fabricius, 1775) WHITE-PINION SPOTTED

A species confined to southern Britain, the larva feeding on hawthorn (Crateagus spp.) and blackthorn (Prunus spp.). In Dorset, the moth is local and at low density, occurring in a range of habitat types, mainly on chalky soil but sometimes on clay soil where hawthorn and/or plum (Prunus domestica) grow. Clay soil localities include Yellowham Wood, Piddles Wood, Merley, Gaunts Common and Castle Hill Wood. Singletons occasionally turn up elsewhere in the county. The following moths probably refer to second-brood individuals: West Bexington, at MV light on 7 and 8 September 1997 (R Eden), Wimborne St Giles, by day on 7 August 1997 (D Jeffers).

1958       Lomographa temerata [Denis & Schiffermüller 1775] CLOUDED SILVER

A common species across southern Britain, more local elsewhere, the larva feeding on hawthorn (Crateagus spp.), blackthorn (Prunus spp.), apple (Malus spp) and aspen (Populus tremens). In Dorset, the moth is most frequent amongst hawthorn and blackthorn, and least common on open heathland. The national norm is for a single brood in May and June, however, the prolonged flight period of three months in Dorset is unlikely to be a single emergence, and two broods are suspected. The peak in early July may indicate adults from both broods on the wing at the same time. The following three moths were trapped at light on the coast during immigration events and are suspected immigrants from regions of the Continent that support an autumn brood: Walditch, on 29 October 2006 (M Parsons), West Bexington, on 2 September 2004, 19 September 2005 (R Eden), Durlston, on 23 October 1996, 10 September 1999 (P Davey).

1960       Theria primaria (Haworth, 1809) EARLY

A species found throughout England and Wales, but more local elsewhere, the larva feeding on blackthorn (Prunus spp.) and hawthorn (Crateagus spp.). In Dorset, the moth is frequent amongst blackthorn and hawthorn scrub, thickets and hedgerows, and deciduous woodland edges; it is largely absent from heathland.

1961       Campaea margaritata (Linnaeus, 1767) LIGHT EMERALD

A common species in Britain, the larva feeding on birch (Betula spp.), beech (Fagus spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), elm (Ulmus spp.), hawthorn (Crateagus spp.) and various other deciduous trees. In Dorset, the moth is common in deciduous woodland and frequent in deciduous scrub and thickets. It is rare in conifer plantation, in open grassland and on heathland. “Larvae may eat lichens (Usnea spp.) and mosses on oak, on alder (Alnus) and on beech tree trunks” (W Parkinson Curtis ms). The national norm is a single brood between July and early August, with a partial second brood in southern England between late August and the end of September. However, the moth is bivoltine in Dorset with the first brood on the wing from the end of May.

1962       Hylaea fasciaria (Linnaeus, 1758) BARRED RED

A generally distributed single-brooded species in Britain, the larva feeding on norway spruce (Picea abies), douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and other conifer trees species. In Dorset, the moth is locally common in conifer plantations and where scots pine is self-sown on heathland. The green form of the moth, ab. prasinana, has been seen in Dorset on two occasions: Studland, 23 July 1994 (R McCormick), and Durlston, on 10 June 2006 (P Davey); a northern France source is likely for both examples. More generally, there are many instances of moths turning up in localities some distance from core conifer habitat, and medium-range dispersal or immigration is suspected for the majority. These include the following second brood examples trapped at light: West Bexington, on 25 September 1994 (R Eden), Puddletown, on 3 October 2002 (H Wood Homer), Woolland, on 17 October 1997 (P Benham).

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1964       Charissa obscurata [Denis & Schiffermüller 1775] ANNULET

A species mainly confined to the British coastline, but also found locally inland across southern Britain, the larva feeding on heather (Calluna spp.), trefoil (Lotus spp.), common rock-rose (Heliathemum nummularium), cinquefoil (Potentilla spp.), and other herbaceous plants. In Dorset, the moth colonises two distinctly different biotypes. The first is damp heathland across the Poole Basin where heather and marsh cinquefoil (Potentilla palustris) are potential host foodplants. The other is the coastal belt of Purbeck, Portland and west Dorset where Fabaceae (vetches, trefoils, pea and clover) species grow in abundance within unimproved calcareous grassland. The moth occurs in the two biotypes in equal numbers, although it is common only very locally. It has yet to be found inland on chalky soils despite the presence of many potential host foodplant species. The Annulet is something of a chameleon as the ground colour of members of a given colony tends to blend in with the tone of their surroundings. Moths are darkest (ab. obscuriorata) on the peaty soils in the mires at Morden Bog, Bryantspuddle Heath and Stoborough Heath, and lightest (ab. calceata) on the chalk cliffs at Arish Mell and Ballard Down.

 1966       Siona lineata (Scopoli, 1763) BLACK-VEINED     RDB1

A much-decreased species, formerly local in southern England, now restricted to a few localities in Kent, the larval foodplant is unknown. In Dorset, the moth used to occur in the south-western sector of the Blackmoor Vale, presumably at a time when the Vale contained large areas of unimproved neutral grassland on ill-drained clay soil. Today, there is probably less than one hundred acres of this valuable habitat left, due to the widespread draining, and in many cases, ploughing of the area. Needless to say, the moth has long since gone: Glanvilles Wootton, 29 June 1847 (J Dale), Caundle’s Holt, 27 June 1836, 29 June 1837 (J Dale).

1968       Semiaspilates ochrearia (Rossi, 1794) YELLOW BELLE

A species restricted to the coasts of southern England and south Wales, and inland on Breckland, the larva feeding on wild carrot (Daucus carota), restharrow (Ononis spp.), toadflax (Linaria spp.), plantain (Plantago spp.) and other herbaceous plants. In Dorset, the moth is locally frequent on cliffs and coastal grassland. The species also colonises unimproved dry chalky grassland inland in the south of the county, notably along the Purbeck Ridge, and in the heathland and acidic grassland immediately to the north of the Purbeck Ridge. Singletons very occasionally turn up at light traps well inland and are likely to be short to medium-range dispersed individuals: Sixpenny Handley, on 25 August 1953 (Dr H King), Gaunts Common, on 10 August 1994 (P Davey), Merley, on 11 June 2001 (J Hammick).

1969       Dyscia fagaria (Thunberg, 1784) GREY SCALLOPED BAR

A local species in Britain, the larva feeding on heather (Calluna spp.) and heath (Erica spp.). In Dorset, the moth is local and declining, and exclusively confined to heathland on sandy soil. The Grey Scalloped Bar occupies the same habitat as the Bordered Grey₁₉₃₈, although the damper regions where heath grows, provide additional potential habitat for this species. The moth may occasionally be flushed from its resting-place during the day and has been found at rest on sand at Canford Bottom (per W Parkinson Curtis ms). The scarcity of this species contrasts markedly with the historical comments: “at times quite common in the heath area”, “abundant at Poole” and “abundant at Studland” (per W Parkinson Curtis ms). It seems that both species are casualties of the fragmentation and reduction of heathland in the intervening years. The few recent records indicate that it is still present across the Poole Basin, in such places as Decoy Heath, Stoborough Heath, Arne, Holt Heath, Sopley Common and Matchams, although numbers are always low. Occasional wanderers appear well away from core habitat, and the following light trap records suggest short-range dispersal: Milton Abbey, on 26 May 1967 (H Edmunds), Scar Bank, on 5 June 1933 (A Russell), Shapwick, on 2 June 2000 (P Davey), Wimborne, on 21 June 1983 (Miss M Brooks).

1970       Perconia strigillaria (Hübner, 1787) GRASS WAVE

A local species occurring in England, Wales and southern Scotland, the larva feeding on heather (Calluna spp.), heath (Erica spp.), broom (Cytisus scoparius) and gorse (Ulex europaeus). In Dorset, the moth is common very locally. It has been noted in some but not all heathland blocks; some where broom is found, such as Ashington and Merley, Parley Common and Matchams, and others such as Gold Point on the Arne peninsular and Decoy Heath where there is no broom. The Grass Wave occupies an additional, rather different biotype in the county, namely old grassland on ill-drained clay soil at Rooksmoor in the Blackmoor Vale. Here, a thriving colony exists but where none of its stated foodplants occur. Dyer’s greenweed (Genista tinctoria), which is abundant at the site, is a likely food-source for the larvae. Old records from nearby Glanville’s Wootton and Caundle’s Holt suggest that the moth was more widespread in the past, presumably at a time when large areas of neutral unimproved grassland existed. Continued monitoring of this moth is recommended at the Rooksmoor SSSI. Light winter grazing appears to be important to maintaining good stocks of dyer’s greenweed at the site.