Sitochroa verticalis
Wingspan about 32 mm. It has a resemblance to Ostrinia nubilalis but has subtle differences in the forewing and a more strongly-marked underside.
Grassy areas
The adults fly in June and July. They are attracted to light, but are also readily disturbed by day.
The larva feeds on a number of plants such as creeping thistle, broom and goosefoot.
Distributed mainly in the southern half of England, Sitochroa verticalis is resident but also a sporadic immigrant, reinforcing the population from time to time. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
It appears to be uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland, where there are few records. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).
Adrian Russell
Evington garden
15 July 2013
2nd record for VC55
Mark Skevington
The Drift
17 July 2021
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
Enter a town or village to see local records
MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020
UK Map
Species profile
- Common names
- Lesser Pearl
- Species group:
- Moths
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Lepidoptera
- Family:
- Crambidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 2
- First record:
- 15/07/2013 (Russell, Adrian)
- Last record:
- 17/07/2021 (Skevington, Mark)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.
In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.