Photo © Mike Wall

Horehound Plume

Wheeleria spilodactylus

Checklist Number
45.035 [B&F: 1515]

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:Wheeleria
Species:spilodactylus
Authority:(Curtis, 1827)

Vulnerable (proposed as a future Red Data Book species) on a few sites on chalky ground in southern England and southern Wales. On the Isle of Wight, found on the cliffs between Freshwater and the Needles, where the foodplant is common in patches along the cliff-edge and the moth, in one or more stages of the life-cycle, can reliably be found. Not recorded from Hampshire. Wingspan 20-25 mm. Larva feeds on White Horehound.

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)1880-SouthAdult
Compton Down, nr Winchester (SZ38)1900-K G BlairAdult
Alum Bay (SZ38)01/05/1969-J M Chalmers-HuntLarval
Freshwater Bay (SZ38)1980oneDavid AppletonPupal
Isle of Wight (SZ28)01/08/1980oneDavid AppletonPupal
Main Bench, High Down (SZ38)11/06/1981-J R Langmaid, E C Pelham-Clinton, A M Emmet, D J L AgassizLarval
Needles, West High & Tennyson Downs, West Wight (SZ38)1982-Anon-
Main Bench, High Down (SZ38)13/07/201115Rob WilsonLarval
Chillerton Down (SZ48)22/07/2011oneRob WilsonLarval
West High Down (SZ38)22/07/2011fourTim Norriss, Lynn Fomison, Dave CookeAdult
Totland (SZ38)26/07/2011oneSam Knill-JonesAdult
Main Bench, High Down (SZ38)15/05/201212Phil BardenLarval
Main Bench, High Down (SZ38)16/05/201255Phil BardenLarval
West High Down (SZ38)20/07/201229Rob WilsonLarval
Tennyson Down (SZ38)24/06/2013-SDBevan, RJHeckfordLarval
Main Bench, High Down (SZ38)26/06/2019onePhil BardenAdult