- National Status: Widely distributed throughout the UK, range stable. Population trend 10 years +1%; since 1976 -17%.
- West Midlands Status: Found throughout the region in varying numbers, range stable. Population trend 10 years – stable after large increase in 2010.
- Hotspots: Knapp and Papermill and St Wulstan’s in Worcestershire, Common Hill in Herefordshire. Brownfield sites can also support good numbers. Sites: Prees Heath, Shobdon Hill, Ewyas Harold, Doward, Trench Wood, Woodgate Valley.
- Habitat: Sunny, open areas particularly flowery meadows and waste ground.
- Flight Period: Generally two generations in the West Midlands. Adults fly from late April to mid-June and mid-July to September.
- Wingspan 29–36 mm
Male
Male
Life Cycle
Caterpillar Food Plant – The main foodplant is Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). Black Medick (Medicago lupulina), Common Restharrow (Ononis repens), Greater Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus), Lesser Trefoil (Trifolium dubium) and White Clover (Trifolium repens) are also used.
| Trend Line for last 5 years using selected sites ——– Best sites for species over the last 5 years |
- The Charts show the distribution over the last 5 years from 2019 to 2023
- The Population Trend from Transect Records 2014 to 2023
- Phenology from All Records
Butterfly and Moths West Midlands Branch 