Photo © Laurie Evans

Depressaria pulcherrimella

Checklist Number
32.042 [B&F: 0676]

Verification
Record will normally be accepted but photo evidence may be required - check with CMR if not sure of identity

Classification

Family:Depressariidae
Subfamily:Depressariinae
Genus:Depressaria
Species:pulcherrimella
Authority:Stainton, 1849

Local in flower meadows and chalk grassland in Britain, from Kent to Cornwall along the south coast and less frequently in the Midlands, Wales and northern England; more frequent throughout most of Scotland; also in western Ireland (MBGBI Vol 4 part 1). In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight there are sparse records from all three vice-counties, though no recent ones from the Island. Wingspan 15-19 mm. Can usually be separated from D. douglasella by the angle made by the pale fascia on the forewing which is obtusely angled in the latter and forms a right-angle in D. pulcherrimella. Larva feeds within flowers and seedheads of Pignut, Burnet-saxifrage and Wild Carrot.

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)

VC8 Wiltshire (Hants county)

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Martin Down NNR (SU01)24/08/1990-Steve Nash-

VC10 Isle of Wight

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Sandown (SZ58)1893-IWGAdult
Sandown (SZ58)06/08/1896-4L B ProutAdult
Sandown (SZ58)1900-Victoria County Hist of Hants & IW 1900Adult
Sandown (SZ58)20/07/1900-L B ProutAdult
Sandown (SZ58)1710-L B ProutAdult
Brading Down (SZ58)11/06/1981twoJ R Langmaid, E C Pelham-Clinton, A M Emmet, D J L AgassizLarval

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Portsdown (SU60)05/06/1980-J R LangmaidLarval
Teg Down, Winchester (SU42)08/06/1980-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingLarval
Portsdown (SU60)20/06/1981oneJ R LangmaidLarval
Portsdown (SU60)09/07/1987twoJ R Langmaid, D H SterlingLarval
Wickham Common (SU51)28/06/2003oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Portchester Common SSSI (SU60)13/08/2004oneRichard J DicksonAdult
Chandlers Ford (SU42)13/04/2013oneBrian ElliottAdult

VC12 North Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Leckford Estate (SU33)07/06/1980-J R Langmaid, D H SterlingLarval
Cholderton (SU24)27/08/2016oneTim Norriss, Lynn Fomison, Henry EdmundsAdult