Species Details

ABH: 63.041

BF: 1410

Family: Crambidae

Subfamily: Spilomelinae

Taxon: Agrotera nemoralis

Authority: (Scopoli, 1763)

Vernacular: Beautiful Pearl

Account: Previously considered restricted as a breeding species in the UK to woodland in Kent, with occasional records from elsewhere as presumed migrants; however, in 2014 a breeding colony was found in Torpoint, Cornwall. In our area the only historic record dated from 1946, until another (illustrated here) was taken at MV by John Langmaid in Southsea on 4th June 2010. The first of Isle of Wight record was one to light in Borthwood Copse on 21st June 2015, since when it has been taken annually, indicating probable colonisation of the south-east of the island. Still rare on the mainland, there have been four reports since 2018, which may relate to dispersion across the Solent; remarkably far inland, one turned up in Alton (VC12) in 2023. Wingspan 20-24 mm. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on Hornbeam and Hazel.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 20 — 24 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 5 Jul (2017) — 5 Jul (2017)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Betula sp. (a birch), Carpinus sp., Castanea sp.

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: pRDB1

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/agrotera-nemoralis/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 1

Individuals: 0

Earliest Year: 2017

Latest Year: 2017

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