Small Ranunculus - Hecatera dysodea

Wingspan 32-34 mm. Forewing greenish-grey with occasional orange and gold spots, including a row near the outer edge.

Rough open ground and gardens and roadside verges.

The adults fly mainly in June and July and are occasionally attracted to light.

The larvae feed on the flowers and seeds of various wild and cultivated Lettuce.

This species became extinct in Britain in the early part of 20th century but re-appeared in Kent in 2002 and is now re-colonising and becoming more common at least as far north as the English Midlands. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as RDBK = Suspected, but not definitely known to be in one of the Red data Book categories, and not enough information available to say which. Local results from VC55 suggest that it has become much more common of late and the Red Data Book status may need to be reviewed.

This species was previously classified as uncommon in our area but has been much more frequent in the last few years.