Species Details

ABH: 72.022

BF: 2063

Family: Erebidae

Subfamily: Arctiinae

Taxon: Diaphora mendica

Authority: (Clerck, 1759)

Vernacular: Muslin Moth

Account: Common in open woodland, gardens and hedgerows, and on downland and sand-dunes throughout much of England, Wales and southern Scotland The males are sometimes common at light, the females fly infrequently but are sometimes seen during the day. Male unmistakable, female is similar to White Ermine and Water Ermine, but smaller. Larva feeds on various herbaceous plants, including Dock and Dead-nettle, over-wintering as a pupa.

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: male 30 — 35 mm; female 36 — 43 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 18 Mar (2024) — 14 Jun (2022)

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

Foodplant: Polyphagous.

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

Status: Least Concern (LC)

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/diaphora-mendica/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 612

Individuals: 181

Earliest Year: 1905

Latest Year: 2025

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