Anania perlucidalis

Alternative names
Marsh Pearl
Fenland Pearl
Phlyctaenia perlucidalis
Description

Wingspan 21-23mm. A fairly plain browny-white moth with a dark mark on the wings.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Grassland and scrub where Thistles are present, also known to enjoy coastal locations.

When to see it

The adults are found on the wing during June and July.

Life History

The life history is incompletely known but it is thought to feed on various Thistles

UK Status

Formerly an infrequent species, of which there are relatively few records. It was first found in 1957 in a Huntingdonshire fen. It has since increased its range and become much more frequent. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

VC55 Status

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland, though possibly increasing. L&R Moth Group status = C (very scarce resident or rare migrant)

Reference
63.020 BF1380

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Fenland Pearl
Species group:
Moths
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Crambidae
Records on NatureSpot:
94
First record:
15/06/2003 (Skevington, Mark)
Last record:
20/06/2025 (Skidmore, Paul)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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