ws |
fw |
flight |
time |
14-18 |
7.1-9.2 (5) |
May-Jun |
day & to light |
lfp |
habitat |
distribution |
status |
smooth tare (Vicia tetrasperma) |
grassy scrub |
Essex |
RDB |
First discovered as a British species at Fingringhoe, Essex in 1973, subsequently recorded from many, mainly coastal, locations in Essex. I have found it to be abundant in grassy rides through scrubland on Foulness Island. First recorded in Suffolk in 2004 and subsequently recorded from several mainly coastal locations. Said by UK Moths to also be present in Hamsphire and Dorset and this is also shown on the distribution maps in A Field Guide to the Smaller Moths - but there has only been one Hampshire record (2005) according to Hant Moths and it is not listed on the Dorset Moths site.
Male genitalia
V standard. T tubular. Gnathos ovoid, somewhat laterally compressed, recurved. Sacculus bowed; anteroventral margin smoothly rounded, with a small apical tooth; medial end expanded slightly as a clavus(?) with the juxta connected between two clavi. Valvula elongate, spatulate and fairly robust. Costa expanded as a plate almost reaching the anterior saccular margin and clearly extended laterally to fuse with the valvula; mid-costal margin with a strong long curved seta; medial end of costa divides with one branch extending medially as a transtilla that almost meets its partner in the midline, the other branch extending dorsally to articulate with T. Juxta standard. Tunica simple, with a broad strong line of sclerotisation on left side and a narrower one on the right (possibly exhibiting a precursor of the 2-pronged tunica). Vesica about same length as tunica; annulus faint narrow; sclerotisation of curve short weak; long comb of short cornuti extending ~⅔ length of vesica.
V standard. T tubular. Gnathos ovoid, somewhat laterally compressed, recurved. Sacculus bowed; anteroventral margin smoothly rounded, with a small apical tooth; medial end expanded slightly as a clavus(?) with the juxta connected between two clavi. Valvula elongate, spatulate and fairly robust. Costa expanded as a plate almost reaching the anterior saccular margin and clearly extended laterally to fuse with the valvula; mid-costal margin with a strong long curved seta; medial end of costa divides with one branch extending medially as a transtilla that almost meets its partner in the midline, the other branch extending dorsally to articulate with T. Juxta standard. Tunica simple, with a broad strong line of sclerotisation on left side and a narrower one on the right (possibly exhibiting a precursor of the 2-pronged tunica). Vesica about same length as tunica; annulus faint narrow; sclerotisation of curve short weak; long comb of short cornuti extending ~⅔ length of vesica.