Small China-mark - Cataclysta lemnata

Description

Wingspan 18-24 mm. The males of this species are slightly smaller and whiter than the females but both sexes have a distinctive row of blue-centred black dots on the hindwing.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Around still or slow-moving water.

When to see it

The adults are on the wing between June and August, when the females in particular come to light.

Life History

The larvae are semi-aquatic, feeding on Duckweed. They build floating cases made from fragments of the foodplant.

UK Status

It is fairly common throughout Britain and Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

VC55 Status

Fairly frequent but not common in Leicestershire & Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = B (scarce resident or restricted distribution or regular migrant)

Reference
63.116 BF1354

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Small China-mark
Species group:
Moths
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Crambidae
Records on NatureSpot:
121
First record:
01/01/1998 (Adrian Russell)
Last record:
06/09/2023 (Pugh, Dylan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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