Photo © David G Green

Triple-spotted Clay

Xestia ditrapezium

Checklist Number
73.360 [B&F: 2127]

Verification
Record requires retention of specimen until confirmed, and may require dissection. Consult with CMR if unsure

Classification

Family:Noctuidae
Subfamily:Noctuinae
Genus:Xestia
Species:ditrapezium
Authority:([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Local, in damp, broad-leaved woodland and fens, from Kent and East Anglia to Devon, in Wales and in central and west Scotland. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight it is very rare, with only three records since 1989, the last being at Shortheath Common in 2008. Wingspan 39-46mm. Pattern very similar to that of Double Square-spot X. triangulum, but the colour of the forewing is a more intense, redder brown, more heavily suffused with fuscous, and the hindwing is relatively paler (MBGBI Vol 9). A specimen of this species must be retained for the record to be considered for acceptance. A photograph is NOT considered sufficient for the purpose. In autumn, larva feeds on herbaceous plants such as Primrose, Dandelion and Dock, and in spring on buds of Sallow, Dogwood and other woody plants.

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
Freshwater (SZ38)01/08/1968oneSam Knill-JonesAdult

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Havant Thicket (SU71)17/07/1959threeB Goater, MW Harper, J HigginsAdult
Winchester (SU43)02/07/1975oneD H SterlingAdult
Roydon Woods HIWWT NR, NF (SU30)1981-Tony Pickles-
Perrywood Ironshill Inclosure (SU30)01/07/1981-Brian Elliott-
Yew Hill NR (SU33)06/07/1984-Wayne BorrasAdult
Ringwood (SU10)14/07/1987-Julian ClarkeAdult
Broughton Down (SU23)14/07/1989-Tony PicklesAdult
Locks Heath (SU50)10/05/2001onePeter CarrAdult
Chandlers Ford (SU42)26/07/2001oneBrian ElliottAdult
Cadnam (SU31)21/07/2006oneMaurice PughAdult
Sway (SZ29)23/06/2014fourSteve KeenAdult

VC12 North Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Abbotstone Down (SU53)1961-Anon-
Lindford (SU83)1970oneJ W O HolmesAdult
Bramley Frith (SU66)1979oneTony DobsonAdult
Northwood (SU43)1980oneReg A BellAdult
Burghclere (SU46)1984twoGGE-FAdult
Fleet Pond (SU85)1987-W Kittle-
Fleet Pond (SU85)1988twoGraham StephensonAdult
Wildhern (SU35)22/07/1996oneDavid G GreenAdult
Shortheath Common, Oakhanger (SU73)07/07/2008oneTony DavisAdult
Shortheath Common (SU73)07/07/2008oneTony DavisAdult