Species Details

ABH: 70.293

BF: 1967

Family: Geometridae

Subfamily: Ennominae

Taxon: Aspitates gilvaria

=Aspitates gilvaria burrenensis

=Aspitates gilvaria gilvaria

Authority: ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Vernacular: Straw Belle

Account: A rare Red Data Book species, on calcareous grassland and in quarries, at two sites in Surrey and several in Kent, a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Also local on limestone pavements in Ireland on the Burren (ssp. burrenensis) The most likely confusion species is Yellow Belle Semiaspilates ochrearia, which see for differences. Larva feeds on Common Bird's-foot Trefoil, Fairy Flax, Black Medick, Wild Thyme, Creeping Cinquefoil, Wild Parsnip and Yarrow.

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: 32 — 39 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 26 Jun (2013) — 12 Sep (1977)

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

Foodplant: Pastinaca sativa (Parsnip), Potentilla sp., Thymus sp.

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

Status: Endangered (EN)

UK BAP: BAP

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 2 — Care needed to identify, an image may be required 🤔
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/aspitates-gilvaria/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 320

Individuals: 1586

Earliest Year: 1877

Latest Year: 2024

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