Davey, P., 2009: The first British moth was discovered on the Isle of Portland by E Curtis on 24 June 1831. The xerothermic species is only found in Dorset, the larva feeding on the dry and withered leaves of many herbaceous plants including yarrow (Achillea millefolium), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), and bramble (Rubus fruticosus). The single-brooded moth is found in grassy, scrubby undercliff on Portland, St Albans Head and at Winspit on Purbeck. Research in other herb-rich unimproved grassland sites between Portland and Durlston may well yield additional colonies. Although the habitat available to the species is restricted, colonies are relatively strong, particularly on Portland, and many moths may be encountered at dusk with the aid of a tilley lamp. Reverend E Bankes managed to rear the species from eggs laid by a moth found on the undercliff on 28 June 1901 between the Breakwater and Pennsylvania Castle on Portland. The young larvae were sleeved out on bramble from early August and brought indoors in December, but fed whenever the weather was mild through the winter. They were reared on bramble at all times; thirty-two adults emerged from thirty-five pupae. Occasionally moths are observed more widely along the coastal belt, and outside the resident flight period, primarily in September, but on one occasion in May. These are likely to refer to double-brooded immigrants from abroad. Recommendations for conservation agencies managing coastal SSSIs on the Purbeck coast and on Portland are, firstly, to maintain herb-rich unimproved grassland through appropriate levels of grazing, and secondly, retain sufficient quantities of managed deciduous scrub that afford both shelter in these exposed locations, and additional food sources.

	Retained Specimen / Photograph will be Required.

Recorded in 14 (35%) of 40 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1884.
Last Recorded in 2019.
(Data up to end 2019)