Photo © Mike Wall

Dowdy Plume

Stenoptilia zophodactylus

Checklist Number
45.021 [B&F: 1507]

Verification
Record will require further evidence, at least a good photograph, unless CMR is aware recorder has confidence in identification

Classification

Family:Pterophoridae
Subfamily:Pterophorinae
Genus:Stenoptilia
Species:zophodactylus
Authority:(Duponchel, 1840)

Local on sea cliffs, dry grassland and sand-dunes throughout much of England. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight has been recorded in the past from all three vice-counties, but there are no recent records from north Hampshire, and the species is probably under-recorded in the south and on the Island. Wingspan 16-23 mm. Larva feeds on flowers and seeds of Centaury, Yellow-wort and Gentian.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

VC10 Isle of Wight

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Ventnor (SZ57)1856-IWGAdult
Ventnor (SZ57)1880-SouthAdult
Yarmouth (SZ38)1900-W FassnidgeAdult
Whippingham (SZ59)1924-S WakelyAdult
Sandown (SZ58)1924-S WakelyAdult
Cranmore (SZ38)1930-J LobbAdult
Newport (SZ59)19/08/1934oneS WakelyAdult
Freshwater (SZ38)1951oneK G BlairAdult
Freshwater (SZ38)18/10/1997oneSam Knill-JonesAdult
Totland (SZ38)15/08/2003oneSam Knill-JonesAdult
Brook Down (SZ38)12/07/2017onePhil BardenAdult
Mottistone Down (SZ48)25/05/2018oneSDBevan, RJHeckfordAdult

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Oxenbourne Down (SU71)09/07/197310Richard J DicksonAdult
Oxenbourne Down (SU71)25/07/1973twoRichard J DicksonAdult
Beaulieu Road, NF (SU30)19/09/1980oneJ R Langmaid, R J HeckfordAdult
West Wood, Sparsholt (SU42)27/09/1980threeJ R Langmaid, P H SterlingAdult
West Wood, Sparsholt (SU42)25/07/1981twoJ R Langmaid, D H SterlingAdult
West Wood, Sparsholt (SU42)31/08/1981-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingLarval
Hilsea Lines, Portsmouth (SU60)14/09/1997oneJ R Langmaid, A M EmmetAdult
Dur Hill Down (SU10)11/10/1997oneJohn ChaineyAdult
Dur Hill Down (SU10)12/10/1998oneJohn ChaineyAdult
Hayling (SU70)02/09/2002oneJ R Langmaid, B ElliottAdult
Browndown (SZ59)09/10/2005oneJ R Langmaid, R J Dickson, B ElliottAdult
Browndown north (SZ59)28/10/2005oneKeith WheelerAdult
Southsea (SZ69)29/07/2006oneJ R LangmaidAdult
Southsea (SZ69)03/08/2006oneJ R LangmaidAdult
Old Winchester Hill (SU62)13/06/2014oneMaurice OpieAdult
Ashlett Creek (SU40)21/07/2014twoJohn Chainey, Jenny SpenceAdult
Holbury (SU40)21/07/2014oneJohn Chainey, Jenny SpenceAdult
Horsea Island (SU60)17/10/2017oneMaurice OpieAdult
Horsea Island (SU60)17/10/2017oneFareham Moth GroupAdult
Browndown Coastal Ranges (SZ59)27/08/2021oneAnthony TindaleAdult

VC12 North Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Eelmoor Marsh SSSI (SU85)21/07/2011oneNick MontegriffoAdult
Stockbridge Down (SU33)09/09/2011oneJ R Langmaid, B ElliottAdult
Lower Froyle (SU74)11/08/2020oneEmily FigginsAdult