Identification

Care required to separate from Chamomile Shark. Shark is larger and greyer than Chamomile Shark and flies later in June. The dark streaks on the forewing do not extend into the fringes and this, coupled with the whitish hindwing with brown veins, should separate it. Also, check the hindwing fringing which is only two-toned, pale on the outer edge and a darker inner, compared to Chamomile Shark that has three bands. More information here.

Recording Method.

Attracted to light.

Life cycle

One generation. Overwinters as a pupa underground in a cocoon. Larvae are present July to early September, hiding by day and feeding at night.

Larval foodplants

Larvae feed on sow-thistles, hawk’s-beards and hawkweeds.

Habitat

Marshes, coastal sand dunes, shingle beaches, gardens and limestone grasslands.

History 

Lennon (1863) had found it common at the Crichton Institution, Dumfries, where he worked. Gordon (1913) had found it to be common and generally distributed on honeysuckle and valerian during June in Wigtownshire. Earliest date was 10th June 1898 and 1906.

Duncan & Cunningham (1952) in the Transactions under ‘Moths taken at Light in 1951 in Dumfriesshire and Eastern Kirkcudbrightshire’ had trapped it several times.

There was a fine series trapped in 1974 at Irvine House Lodge, Auchenrivock (VC72). During 1976-80 just thirteen were recorded from six of the Rothamsted stations, Mabie Forest not recording it. Regular trapping on the Hensol Estate in the early 1980s proved its residency there.

From 1993 to 2010 the regular trapped sites at Kirkton, Durisdeer and Mersehead RSPB provided most of the 75 records in this period, with other records from scattered sites across the region.