Identification

Unmistakable, with the nominate race believed to be the one involved.

Recording method

Larvae found in Sea Campion or Bladder Campion seed heads in summer, adults can be disturbed from foodplants, occasionally comes to light.

Life cycle

One generation. Overwinters as a pupa in loose earth, sometimes taking two seasons. Larvae are present mid-June to late July.

Larval foodplants

Bladder Campion and Sea Campion ripening seed capsules.

Habitat

Limestone and chalk sites, calcareous sea-cliffs and gardens.

History

First recorded for Dumfries and Galloway in 1870 for VC73 in Colvend parish by White, in 1906 for VC73 at Luce Bay by Gordon who stated that ‘eleven larvae were taken from seed heads of Silene maritima, along Alticry shore, Luce Bay’ but not until 1995 for VC72 at Kirkton by Richard Mearns.

There is limestone along the Kirkcudbrightshire and Dumfriesshire coastline, so it would be worthwhile checking the seedpods of the foodplant from early July onwards.