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Oak Rustic
Dryobota labecula Esper,1788
Noctuidae: Xyleninae
2246a / 73.223
Photo © Paul Kitchener,  21/10/2022 - Shottisham

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Similar Species
Dot Moth
Melanchra persicariae
Forewing: 12-15mm
Flight: One generation, October to December
Foodplant:   Evergreen Oak, Quercus ilex
Red List: Least Concern (LC)
GB Status: Nationally Scarce
Verification Grade:  Adult: 2
Status
Morley's Final Catalogue: Not known from the UK in Morley's time. The first British record was in 1999, on the Isle of Wight.

Recent Suffolk Status: Local along the coast and a few sites inland. Still increasing and spreading.
The first county record was at the Hen reedbeds reserve on 04.11.2018 (J. Everson), closely followed by 3 more at Bawdsey on 07.11, 10.11 and 11.11.2018. More records followed in 2019 at Bawdsey, Theberton and Landguard, Felixstowe strongly suggesting the moth had colonized. Since then the moth has increased fairly rapidly, including appearing in VC26 in 2021 at Brandon (G. & Z. Geen).
Larvae were found on flowering Holm oak in 2023 at Bawdsey (N. Sherman), confirming without doubt the moth is now a resident species.

Life history: Single-brooded.

Identification: Superficially like a Dot moth, but that is much larger and flies in the summer, not in autumn.

Habitat: Coastal sites, parkland, gardens.

Recorded in 18 (31%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 2018.
Last Recorded in 2024.
Additional Stats

Latest 10 Records
Date#VC10kArea
01/12/2024125TM34Hollesley/Rendlesham Forest
30/11/2024125TM34Hollesley/Rendlesham Forest
30/11/2024125TM57Southwold
30/11/2024+25TM34Hollesley/Rendlesham Forest
27/11/2024125TM25Wickham Market/Otley
25/11/2024+25TM34Hollesley/Rendlesham Forest
14/11/2024125TM59Lowestoft
14/11/2024+25TM34Hollesley/Rendlesham Forest
13/11/2024+25TM34Hollesley/Rendlesham Forest
10/11/2024125TM24Woodbridge/Martlesham
Further info: Dryobota labecula
 
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