Photo © David G Green
Four-spotted
Tyta luctuosa
Checklist Number73.031 [B&F: 2465]
Verification
Record will require further evidence, at least a good photograph, unless CMR is aware recorder has confidence in identification
Nationally scarce (Na) in dry open areas, south-facing hillsides, unimproved grassland, embankments and waste ground in southern England, a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Restricted nowadays to a handful of locations, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, at Portland, Dorset and at single sites in Lincolnshire, Essex, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. Occasional migrants turn up some distance from know breeding sites, these are presumed to have originated from mainland Europe. In Hampshire the species has disappeared altogether: in the 1950s, it was locally fairly common on downland in a wide area around Winchester. On the Isle of Wight, occasional migrants continue to turn up, the most recent of which was at Totland in August 2004. Wingspan 25-29 mm. Larva feeds on Field Bindweed, over-wintering as a pupa.
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)
VC10 Isle of Wight
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandown (SZ58) | 1856 | - | IWG | Adult |
| Bembridge (SZ68) | 1856 | - | IWG | Adult |
| Pelham Wood (SZ57) | 1856 | - | IWG | Adult |
| Brading (SZ68) | 1856 | - | IWG | Adult |
| Freshwater (SZ38) | 1900 | one | W Fassnidge | Adult |
| Ventnor (SZ57) | 1900 | - | W Fassnidge | Adult |
| Alverstone (SZ58) | 1937 | - | H A Stowell | Adult |
| Freshwater (SZ38) | 27/07/1949 | one | K G Blair | Adult |
| Totland (SZ38) | 05/08/2004 | one | Sam Knill-Jones | Adult |
VC11 South Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth (SZ69) | 1800 | - | Robert Hayward | - |
| NF (SU30) | 1928 | - | Anon | - |
| Leckford (SU33) | 1945 | - | D H Sterling | - |
| Portsdown (SU60) | 15/06/1958 | one | John R Langmaid | Adult |
| Sholing (SU41) | 15/07/2004 | one | Andrew Collins | Adult |
| Blashford (SU10) | 31/07/2020 | one | Simon Woolley & Julia Casson | Adult |
VC12 North Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leckford Estate (SU33) | 1945 | - | Anon | - |
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