Diacrisia sannio (Linnaeus, 1758)

Description: Wingspan 30mm-50mm. The males are larger than females. Male forewings are yellow with a reddish discal mark. Costal region and cilia are pinkish red. Hindwing pale yellowish white with discal lunule and darkish band towards the outer margin. Females have dark orange forewings with prominent dark veining and a smaller discal spot. Hindwings similar to the male but with a darker basal patch and lunule.

Key Identification Features:

• Yellow forewings
• Red-coloured discal mark on forewings
• Pinkish red fringe to all wings

Sets:

Flight Period: Adults have only been recorded in N. Ireland in mid to late-June. Skinner, however gives July as part of the main flight period.

Status: A scarce species restricted in recent times to a few localities in Fermanagh namely, Braade, Correl Glen, Blackhill and, most recently, Garvary. There is also an old 1950s record for the Belfast area. In view of its short flight period and remote haunts, it may exist more widely in other similar localities, especially Londonderry and other parts of Fermanagh. In southern Ireland it is widely distributed and recorded from Counties Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Wicklow, Limerick, Kilkenny, Cork and Waterford.

Ecology: A brightly coloured, day-flying species, associated with upland and lowland bogs and heaths. Adults are easily disturbed from the vegetation where they rest during the daytime. Like many other dayflying moths, the males are only active during warm sunshine; the females are less often seen and tend not to fly before dark. The larvae feed on Heather Calluna vulgaris and other low-growing plants from August until May of the following year. It overwinters as a larva.

World Distribution: Across Europe as far east as Asia Minor.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 2059 Agassiz number: 72.023

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: