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Water Ermine
Spilosoma urticae (Esper, 1789)
Erebidae: Arctiinae
2062 / 72.021
Photo © Raymond A Watson,  Hollesley 24 May 2020

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Similar Species
White Ermine
Spilosoma lubricipeda
Muslin Moth
Diaphora mendica
Forewing: 18-21mm
Flight: One generation June-July
Foodplant:   Water Dock, Water Mint, other marshland plants.
Red List: Least Concern (LC)
GB Status: Nationally Scarce
Former Status: Nationally Scarce B
Verification Grade:  Adult: 2
Status
Morley's Final Catalogue: Extremely rare, and found only singly. Tuddenham (T. & J. Brown of Cambridge); Beccles (Crf) and Gorleston (Hist. Yarm., probably in error): ante 1890. One in Copdock Rectory avenue, c. 1895 (Hkg). One at Kessingland in June 1890 (Ctw). One found floating on Oulton Dyke about 1920 (D). One female bred 21 May 1927 from Belton larva (Ellis).

Recent Suffolk status: Scarce, mainly coastal with occasional inland records close to wetland sites.

Life history: Single-brooded in summer.

Identification: Compare with similar White Ermine, examples of which can show remarkably few black spots on fore-wings. Water Ermine lacks the single black spot on hind-wing of White Ermine. Overall a longer, slimmer moth and cleaner looking than White Ermine.

Habitat: Wet meadows, marshes including and salt-marshes.

Recorded in 26 (45%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1890.
Last Recorded in 2024.
Additional Stats

Latest 10 Records
Date#VC10kArea
23/06/2024125TM58Carlton Colville/Kessingland
23/06/2024925TM49Somerleyton/Beccles
23/06/2024+25TM34Hollesley/Rendlesham Forest
21/06/2024+25TM34Hollesley/Rendlesham Forest
02/06/2024125TM13Brantham/Holbrook
30/05/2024125TM37Halesworth
08/07/2023125TM47Blythburgh/Dunwich
30/06/2023125TM34Hollesley/Rendlesham Forest
24/06/2023125TM34Hollesley/Rendlesham Forest
22/06/2023125TM46Minsmere/Leiston
Further info: Spilosoma urticae
 
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