Photo © Mike Wall
Small Plume
Oxyptilus parvidactyla
Checklist Number45.025 [B&F: 1490]
Verification
Record will normally be accepted but photo evidence may be required - check with CMR if not sure of identity
Classification
| Family: | Pterophoridae |
| Subfamily: | Pterophorinae |
| Genus: | Oxyptilus |
| Species: | parvidactyla |
| Authority: | (Haworth, 1811) |
Local, on heaths, dry pastures and chalk downland, throughout the British Isles. In Hampshire, locally common on unspoilt downland, but not recorded recently from the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 13-18mm. Difficult to differentiate from other Oxyptilus, unless reared from the host plant or via dissection. A diurnal moth, and can be seen in afternoon sunshine, until dusk. The flight period is June to July.
Larva feeds on Mouse-ear Hawkweed, living within a spun or rolled leaf.
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 | - | IWG | Adult |
| Sandown (SZ58) | 1856 | - | IWG | Adult |
| Ventnor (SZ57) | 1880 | - | South | Adult |
VC11 South Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsdown (SU60) | 13/07/1972 | one | George R Else | Adult |
| Oxenbourne Down (SU71) | 14/07/1972 | one | George R Else | Adult |
| Oxenbourne Down (SU71) | 26/05/1973 | one | Richard J Dickson | Adult |
| Oxenbourne Down (SU71) | 25/05/1974 | one | Richard J Dickson | Adult |
| Oxenbourne Down (SU71) | 01/06/1974 | one | Richard J Dickson | Adult |
| Portsdown (SU60) | 18/07/1981 | - | John R Langmaid | Adult |
| Broughton Down (SU23) | 03/07/1983 | - | J R Langmaid, D H Sterling | Adult |
| Oxenbourne Down (SU71) | 06/07/1985 | - | John R Langmaid | Adult |
| Fareham (SU50) | 03/08/2014 | one | Keith Wheeler | Adult |
| Portsdown (SU60) | 24/06/2015 | three | J R Langmaid, M R Young | Adult |
| Portsdown (SU60) | 04/06/2016 | one | J R Langmaid, M R Young | Adult |
| Botley (SU51) | 06/07/2019 | one | Sue L Bailey | Adult |
| Oxenbourne Down (SU71) | 01/06/2020 | one | Tony Davis | Adult |
| Chandlers Ford (SU42) | 19/07/2021 | one | Brian Elliott | Adult |
| Broughton Down HIWWT NR (SU23) | 15/06/2022 | - | Robert A Chapman | Adult |
| Romsey (SU32) | 02/08/2024 | one | Tim Norriss | Adult |
VC12 North Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Micheldever (SU54) | 1971 | - | D W H Ffennell | - |
| Leckford Estate (SU33) | 29/06/1986 | - | J R Langmaid, D H Sterling, P H Sterling, M S Parsons | Adult |
| Micheldever (SU54) | 07/07/2006 | one | Mike Wall & Alison Cross | Adult |
| Weston Colley (SU53) | 02/07/2010 | one | David G Green | Adult |
| Old Burghclere (SU45) | 30/05/2012 | one | Graham Dennis | Adult |
| Old Burghclere (SU45) | 09/06/2012 | one | Shaun Barrett | Adult |