Photo © Keith Tailby

Barred Chestnut

Diarsia dahlii

Checklist Number
73.331 [B&F: 2121]

Verification
Record will normally be accepted but photo evidence may be required - check with CMR if not sure of identity

Classification

Family:Noctuidae
Subfamily:Noctuinae
Genus:Diarsia
Species:dahlii
Authority:(Hübner, [1813])

Local in broad-leaved woodland, moorland and wooded heathland throughout much of Scotland, northern England and Ireland. Unlikely to be recorded in Hampshire or on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 32-42 mm. Some forms of Ingrailed Clay D. mendica may be mistaken for male Barred Chestnut, but have the costa of the forewing less strongly arched, the hindwing paler and usually with a faint postmedian band and a differently marked underside. The female can be confused with Purple Clay D. brunnea (MBGBI Vol 9). Larva feeds on various woody plants and herbaceous plants, including Bilberry, Bramble, Sallow, Silver Birch and Downy Birch.