Species Details

ABH: 73.216

BF: 2318

Family: Noctuidae

Subfamily: Xyleninae

Taxon: Cosmia trapezina

Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular: Dun-bar

Account: Common in woodland, gardens and hedgerows throughout the British Isles; very widespread and common across most of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 28-38 mm. Very variable in colour, but general pattern of cross-lines always discernible, making the species generally easy to recognise. Larva polyphagous on various broad-leaved trees and shrubs including Elm, Oak, Birch, Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Hazel, Willow and Field Maple, and on the larvae of other moths, most notably on Winter Moth, but possibly also cannibalistic, 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: 28 — 38 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 12 Jun (2023) — 29 Sep (1904)

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

Foodplant: Polyphagous.

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: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/cosmia-trapezina/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 1589

Individuals: 2935

Earliest Year: 1901

Latest Year: 2025

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