Photo © Stephen Rolls
Mediterranean Brocade
Spodoptera littoralis
Checklist Number73.089 [B&F: 2386]
Verification
Record will require further evidence, at least a good photograph, unless CMR is aware recorder has confidence in identification
Very rare immigrant or occasional adventive from southern Europe, the latter evidenced by the finding in 1963 of numbers in glass-houses from southern England to the Midlands, and even Scotland. This infestation was traced to chrysanthemum cuttings with infected roots imported from the Canary Islands; it was eliminated by the next year, but larvae are still regularly found in imported fruit. In Hampshire a probable immigrant was taken at Lymington in September 1978, and the species is also occasionally found in imported bananas, tomatoes and other fruits. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 34-38 mm. Larva feeds on fruits and vegetables such as Potato and Tomato.
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)
VC11 South Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lymington (SZ39) | 13/10/1978 | one | Tony Pickles | Adult |
