Photo © Mike Wall
Dark Mottled Willow
Spodoptera cilium
Checklist Number73.088 [B&F: 2386c]
Verification
Record requires retention of specimen until confirmed, and may require dissection. Consult with CMR if unsure
Rare immigrant from grassland in southern Europe, appearing on the south coast of England, first recorded on the Lizard, Cornwall on 29 September 1990, with another at Portland two days later; it is now almost annual, with a total of seven in 2011; records are biased towards the south-west, mainly in October. In our area there have been two records, in Bembridge, Isle of Wight in Oct 2018 and on the mainland, at Hurn in 2022. Wingspan 28-34 mm. Main confusion species is the more common migrant Small Mottled Willow S. exigua, but reniform stigma darker, orbicular stigma comma-shaped, and holds its wings less tightly rolled around body. Larva feeds on various grasses; no evidence of breeding in the UK.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bembridge (SZ68) | 16/10/2018 | one | Alec Kolaj | Adult |
VC11 South Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurn (SZ19) | 30/10/2022 | one | Mike Jeffes | Adult |
