Main: (Erebidae / Toxocampinae)
72.072 [B&F: 2407] Purple Marbled (Eublemma ostrina) (Hübner, [1808])

Rare immigrant from southern Europe, with over 100 records of the adult in the British Isles; larvae and pupae have been found in some years, especially in the 1990s. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight a scarce immigrant with about twenty records from all three vice-counties. Wingspan 18-25 mm. Could be confused with Small Marbled E. parva which is usually much smaller, and has the forewing postmedian fascia present, curved almost as a semicircle below the costa (MBGBI Vol 10). Larva feeds on flowers and seedheads of various thistles, no evidence of breeding in the UK.

Flightime guide

Stage

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Adult

Larval