Photo © Mike Wall

Gold Swift

Phymatopus hecta

Checklist Number
03.004 [B&F: 0016]

Verification
Record will be accepted (subject to date and location checks)

Classification

Family:Hepialidae
Subfamily:Hepialinae
Genus:Phymatopus
Species:hecta
Authority:(Linnaeus, 1758)

Local in grassland throughout most of the British Isles. In Hampshire locally common wherever there is bracken, rather uncommon on the Isle of Wight. The males sometimes swarm just before dusk over grassy places adjacent to stands of foodplant. Wingspan male 26-30 mm, female 28-32 mm. The golden markings on forewing of male are diagnostic; in particular, the diagonal, sometimes broken band near base runs roughly parallel to outer markings, unlike other swift moths (MBGBI Vol 1). Larva feeds within roots of Bracken, over-wintering twice.

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)