Davey, P., 2009: A declining species in England and Wales, the larva feeding on the flowers and seeds of wych elm (Ulmus glabra), and occasionally English elm (Ulmus procera). In Dorset, this moth colonised small valley woods on Purbeck where wych elm was dominant, and wych-elm rich deciduous woodland on chalky soils close to river valleys, for example the River Iwerne and the River Crane. However, this species shares similar habitat preference to the Lesser-spotted Pinion2316 and the White-spotted Pinion2317, and like them, has all but disappeared from the county, although the Milton-on Stour dates do not coincide with immigration, and a far more local source is likely. The caterpillar requires a diet of flowers and seeds that tend to be present only on mature elm trees. Given the prevalence of dutch elm disease, very few elms manage to survive to flower-bearing age, and so the moth has disappeared. In the absence of any initiative to restock the countryside with disease resistant elm, no recommendations are proposed: Milton-on Stour, 14 and two on 30 September 2006 (J Burge), Iwerne Minster, at MV light on 11 August 1956, 2 October 1956, 1 October 1959, 13 September 1964, 1 October and 6 October 1965 (H Moore), Creech Grange, two at MV light on 22 September 1965 (F Reeves), Scar Bank, at light on 14 September 1945, 1 October 1948 (A Russell), Durlston, at ivy bloom on 10 October 1936 (A Russell), at MV on 23 September 1961 (Dr J Langmaid et al), three at MV on 9 October 1961 (S Coxey), at MV on 8 October 1962 (B Baker, T Homer), at MV light on 3 October 1976 (Dr J Clarke), at MV light on 12 October 1991 (D Brown), Cranborne, at light on 18 September 1907 (W Parkinson Curtis).

The moth has also been recorded on a number of occasions from a range of often mature elm-free habitat. Sources in western France are likely for the majority of the examples trapped mainly at light: West Bexington, on 2 October 2007 (R Eden), Weymouth, at MV on 18 October 1960 (E Classey, Professor R Morrell), Portland, at ivy bloom on 17 October 1960 (D ffennell), on 15 October 2001, 11 October 2005, 24 September 2006 and two on 18 October 2006 (M Cade), Puddletown, on 15 October 2005 (H Wood Homer), Shapwick, on 10 October 2006 (P Davey), Stoborough, at MV light on 27 September 1977 (B Withers), Worth Matravers, two at ivy bloom on 10 October 1961 (Captain R Jackson), Studland, three at MV light on 13 October and 25 October 1979 (D Brown), Brownsea Island, on 2 October 1964 (A Bromby).

Recorded in 13 (33%) of 40 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1907.
Last Recorded in 2014.
(Data up to end 2019)