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Dewick's Plusia
Macdunnoughia confusa (Stephens, 1850)
Noctuidae: Plusiinae
2436 / 73.010
Photo © Jack Oughton,  Portesham October 2022

Similar Dorset Species
Golden Twin-spot
Chrysodeixis chalcites
Gold Spangle
Autographa bractea
Forewing: 12-17mm
Flight: May, July - October
Foodplant:   Common Nettle other plants
Red List: Least Concern (LC)
GB Status: Not Assessed / Immigrant
Former Status: Immigrant
Verification Grade:  Adult: 2

Davey, P., 2009: A relatively recent immigrant species, the first seen in Essex in 1951, and at least one seen in most years this century. The species was originally resident in eastern Europe and Asia and has spread west and north from the 1920s; it is now resident over much of mainland Europe and Scandinavia, the polyphagous larva feeding on various herbaceous plants including dead nettle sp. (Lamium sp.), nettle (Urtica dioica), chamomiles (Chamaemelum nobile and Anthemis spp.) and mayweeds (Matricaria spp. and Tripleurospermum spp.), wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), although no larvae have yet been found in Britain. In Dorset, the moth has been seen at light traps on nineteen occasions: West Bexington, on 20 October 2001, 17 October 2005, 15 September 2008 (R Eden), Wyke Regis, on 22 September 1988 (P Baker), Weymouth, on 12 June 2006 (Dr P Sterling), Portland, on 19 and 20 October 2001, 28 June 2003, 26 July 2008, 12 September 2008 (M Cade), Preston, on 1 August 2004 (R Lambert), Puddletown, on 3 October 2001, 16 September 2006, 10 October 2006 (H Wood Homer), Winterborne Stickland, on 12 September 2000 (L de Whalley), Winspit, 22 July 2008 (P Davey), Gaunts Common, on 27 August 1992 (P Davey), Swanage, on 30 September 2008 (Reverend E Pratt), Durlston, on 18 October 2008 (M Deans et al). The region of central and western France appears to have sourced the majority of the moths seen across the county.

Recorded in 16 (40%) of 40 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1992.
Last Recorded in 2019.
(Data up to end 2019)

Latest 5 Records (Data up to end 2019)
Date#VC10k Area
12/10/201919SY68 - Weymouth / Martinstown
04/10/201919SY98 - Wareham
23/09/201919SY49 - Bridport
21/09/201919SU00 - Wimborne
01/09/201919SZ07 - Swanage
Further info: Macdunnoughia confusa
 
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