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Little Emerald
Jodis lactearia (Linnaeus, 1758)
Geometridae: Geometrinae
1674 / 70.303
Photo © Dave Foot

Similar Dorset Species: None
Forewing: 11-12mm
Flight: May - June
Foodplant:   Downy Birch, Silver Birch, Hazel, Hawthorn, Blackthorn
Red List: Least Concern (LC)
GB Status: Common
Verification Grade:  Adult: 2

Davey, P., 2009: A species occurring in England and Wales, the larva feeding on birch (Betula spp.), hazel (Corylus avellana), hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). In Dorset, the moth is at low density in deciduous birch-oak woods on chalky soils such as Stubhampton Bottom and Chetterwood, and on clay soils such as Piddles Wood, Yellowham Wood and Boys Wood. Adults may be flushed out from hazel understory in these localities. The moth also occurs in deciduous birch and sweet chestnut woodland on sandy soils such as Arne Wood and Whitesheet. Although there is partial emergence in May, the main flight period for the species is June and July which is later than the national norm of May and June; a partial bivoltine cycle is suspected in Dorset.

Recorded in 29 (73%) of 40 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1904.
Last Recorded in 2019.
(Data up to end 2019)

Latest 5 Records (Data up to end 2019)
Date#VC10k Area
10/07/201919SY39 - Lyme Regis
23/06/201919SY39 - Lyme Regis
12/06/201919ST60 - Cerne Abbas
09/07/201819ST61 - Sherborne
06/07/201819ST40 - Beaminster
Further info: Jodis lactearia
 
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