Caradrina clavipalpis (Scopoli, 1763)

Description: Wingspan 26-35 mm. Forewings often have a mottled appearance. The colouration ranges from pale greyish brown to darker brown in some individuals. Stigmata small darker than base colour; however in some individuals they are not always clearly visible. Antemedian line is reduced to a series of small dark scales; postmedian line reduced to a number of small dark-coloured dots. Subterminal is not clearly defined. There is a series of small brown wedges on the outer margin of the forewing. Hindwings pearly white becoming darker towards the termen.

Key Identification Features:

• Small size
• Mottled appearance of forewings
• Inconspicuous stigmata
• White hindwings

Sets:

Flight Period: Possibly double-brooded, adults have been recorded in every month from May to October. The peak times seem to be from early July to mid-August and again from early September to the end of October.

Status: Baynes described this species as being common and widely distributed although recent records would not support this. It seems restricted mainly to eastern counties of Down and Armagh where it is commonly encountered. Elsewhere it is rare with only two recent records from Fermanagh at Crom Estate and Enniskillen. There are no recent records north of Lough Neagh, however there is an old record from Portballintrae back in 1937.

Ecology: A species that inhabits a wide range of habitats including coastal dunes and heaths, it is also found in suburban gardens and other urban habitats. Adults come frequently to light and also to flowers especially Common Ragwort Senecio jacobaea and Ivy Hedera helix. The larvae feed from the autumn until the spring on various cereals, grasses and herbaceous plants. It overwinters as a larva.

World Distribution: Common and widely distributed throughout western Europe as far north as the Arctic.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 2389 Agassiz number: 73.095

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: