Photo © Mike Wall

Black V Moth

Arctornis l-nigrum

Checklist Number
72.008 [B&F: 2032]

Verification
Record requires retention of specimen until confirmed, and may require dissection. Consult with CMR if unsure

Classification

Family:Erebidae
Subfamily:Lymantriinae
Genus:Arctornis
Species:l-nigrum
Authority:(Müller, 1764)

Rare immigrant from mainland Europe, with four records (excluding a few rather vague 19th Century records, and records associated with a breeding population that was present in VC18 from 1947 to 1960). The four primary immigrant records all occurred during July from VC19 in 1904, VC13 in 1946, VC16 in 2006 and the first in our area, from the Totland, Wight on 4 July 2015. Wingspan 52-56 mm. Forewing with a very prominent black V-shaped mark at end of cell (MBGBI Vol 9). Larva feeds on English Elm and Wych Elm.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

No Larval records to show.

VC10 Isle of Wight

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Totland (SZ38)04/07/2015oneSam Knill-JonesAdult