Species Details

ABH: 73.217

BF: 2319

Family: Noctuidae

Subfamily: Xyleninae

Taxon: Cosmia pyralina

Authority: ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Vernacular: Lunar-spotted Pinion

Account: Local in hedgerows, scrub, woodland, parks and gardens throughout much of southern England, north to Merseyside and Humberside The main confusion species is Lesser-spotted Pinion C. affinis; in C. pyralina the costa is relatively more arched, and the hindwing paler, without a dark border, so that the cilia contrast less with the rest of the wing (MBGBI Vol 10). Larva polyphagous on many deciduous trees and shrubs, favouring elm, and over-wintering as an egg.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 29 — 34 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 12 Jun (2023) — 21 Aug (1987)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Ulmus sp. (an elm).

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Least Concern (LC)

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 2 — Care needed to identify 🤔
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/cosmia-pyralina/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 299

Individuals: 59

Earliest Year: 1881

Latest Year: 2023

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