Status
Morley's Final Catalogue: Asia Minor and Central Europe; in Britain confined to the Breck District of E. Anglia, and most frequent in Suffolk part of it. There it was discovered as British at Tuddenham early in July 1868 by the Revd. A. H. Wratislaw, Head of Bury School, who also found the larva (Suff. Inst. iv, 1871, 219), ''about ten miles from Bury St. Edmunds'' (Suff. Inst. 4ly Journ., 1869, 23). There Norgate and other lepidopterists afterwards took it at Tuddenham where it appeared at light in 1889, Icklingham, Elveden, Eriswell and Brandon; before 1890. Later at Tuddenham, Herringswell and Worlington, sometimes at light (Sparke, Entom. 1900, 40); several flying at dusk in June 1903 Thetford (EMM. xxxix, p.226) and larvae there in 1932-3 (Bp); several in the Breck during 1913 (Nurse), where larvae were taken in 1916 (Harwood) and goodly numbers of imagines in 1931 (Trans. i, 232). This interesting species seems prone to spread, for Mrs. Mann has found it to be not uncommon at Bladder campion flowers in Mettingham.
Recent Suffolk Status: Extinct, both in Suffolk and the UK. The last Suffolk and UK record was of larvae in 1968 at Icklingham. Loss of habitat and the decline in ground disturbance in the Brecks probably resulted in this moths disappearance.
Life history: Single-brooded. Adults were noted at flowers as well as at light. The larvae could be found on the foodplant, Spanish catchfly, after dark feeding on the seed pods.
Identification: Differs from Tawny shears as it lacks a bullet mark. Dusky sallow has a dark cross band.
Habitat: Breck grassland, especialy where disturbance occurred.Verification Grade Comment: Extinct.  | Retained Specimen / Photograph will be Required. | |
Recorded in 7 (12%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1868.
Last Recorded in 1968.
Additional Stats |