Species Details

ABH: 73.033

BF: 2020

Family: Noctuidae

Subfamily: Dilobinae

Taxon: Diloba caeruleocephala

Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular: Figure of Eight

Account: Common in woodland, hedgerows, orchards and gardens throughout England and Wales, a species of conservation concern under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan Larva feeds on Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Crab Apple, Wild Rose and various species of fruit tree.

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: 34 — 40 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 8 Sep (1973) — 10 Nov (1994)

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

Foodplant: Crataegus sp., Malus sp. (an apple), Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn).

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

Status: Endangered (EN)

UK BAP: BAP(R)

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/diloba-caeruleocephala/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 204

Individuals: 128

Earliest Year: 1903

Latest Year: 2025

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