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Annulet
Charissa obscurata ([Denis & Schifferm?ller], 1775)
Geometridae: Ennominae
1964 / 70.287
Photo © Dave Shenton

Similar Dorset Species: None
Forewing: 15-18mm
Flight: July - August
Foodplant:   Bird's-foot Trefoil, Creeping Cinquefoil, Wild Strawberry, Salad Burnet
Red List: Least Concern (LC)
GB Status: Common
Former Status: Local
Verification Grade:  Adult: 3

Davey, P., 2009: A species mainly confined to the British coastline, but also found locally inland across southern Britain, the larva feeding on heather (Calluna spp.), trefoil (Lotus spp.), common rock-rose (Heliathemum nummularium), cinquefoil (Potentilla spp.), and other herbaceous plants. In Dorset, the moth colonises two distinctly different biotypes. The first is damp heathland across the Poole Basin where heather and marsh cinquefoil (Potentilla palustris) are potential host foodplants. The other is the coastal belt of Purbeck, Portland and west Dorset where Fabaceae (vetches, trefoils, pea and clover) species grow in abundance within unimproved calcareous grassland. The moth occurs in the two biotypes in equal numbers, although it is common only very locally. It has yet to be found inland on chalky soils despite the presence of many potential host foodplant species. The Annulet is something of a chameleon as the ground colour of members of a given colony tends to blend in with the tone of their surroundings. Moths are darkest (ab. obscuriorata) on the peaty soils in the mires at Morden Bog, Bryantspuddle Heath and Stoborough Heath, and lightest (ab. calceata) on the chalk cliffs at Arish Mell and Ballard Down.

Retained Specimen / Photograph will be Required.

Recorded in 20 (50%) of 40 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1884.
Last Recorded in 2019.
(Data up to end 2019)

Latest 5 Records (Data up to end 2019)
Date#VC10k Area
21/09/2019109SY66 - Portland Bill
11/09/201969SY67 - Portland / Weymouth
25/08/201919SY87 - Lulworth coast
24/08/201919SY67 - Portland / Weymouth
15/08/201919SY67 - Portland / Weymouth
Further info: Charissa obscurata
 
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