Photo © David G Green

Four-spotted

Tyta luctuosa

Checklist Number
73.031 [B&F: 2465]

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

Classification

Family:Noctuidae
Subfamily:Aediinae
Genus:Tyta
Species:luctuosa
Authority:([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Nationally scarce (Na) in dry open areas, south-facing hillsides, unimproved grassland, embankments and waste ground in southern England, a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Restricted nowadays to a handful of locations, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, at Portland, Dorset and at single sites in Lincolnshire, Essex, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. Occasional migrants turn up some distance from know breeding sites, these are presumed to have originated from mainland Europe. In Hampshire the species has disappeared altogether: in the 1950s, it was locally fairly common on downland in a wide area around Winchester. On the Isle of Wight, occasional migrants continue to turn up, the most recent of which was at Totland in August 2004. Wingspan 25-29 mm. Larva feeds on Field Bindweed, over-wintering as a pupa.

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)

No Larval records to show.

VC10 Isle of Wight

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Bembridge (SZ68)1856-IWGAdult
Pelham Wood (SZ57)1856-IWGAdult
Sandown (SZ58)1856-IWGAdult
Brading (SZ68)1856-IWGAdult
Ventnor (SZ57)1900-W FassnidgeAdult
Freshwater (SZ38)1900oneW FassnidgeAdult
Alverstone (SZ58)1937-H A StowellAdult
Freshwater (SZ38)27/07/1949oneK G BlairAdult
Totland (SZ38)05/08/2004oneSam Knill-JonesAdult

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Portsmouth (SZ69)1800-Robert Hayward-
NF (SU30)1928-Anon-
Leckford (SU33)1945-D H Sterling-
Portsdown (SU60)15/06/1958oneJ R LangmaidAdult
Sholing (SU41)15/07/2004oneAndy CollinsAdult
Blashford (SU10)31/07/2020oneSimon Woolley & Julia CassonAdult

VC12 North Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Leckford Estate (SU33)1945-Anon-