Photo © Ian Thirlwell
Scarce Light Plume
Oxyptilus laetus
Checklist Number45.027 [B&F: 1492]
Verification
Record requires retention of specimen until confirmed, and may require dissection. Consult with CMR if unsure
Classification
| Family: | Pterophoridae |
| Subfamily: | Pterophorinae |
| Genus: | Oxyptilus |
| Species: | laetus |
| Authority: | (Zeller, 1847) |
Very rare immigrant from southern Europe and the Canary Islands. Recorded for the first time in Hampshire/IoW at Freshwater on the Isle of Wight on 15 June 2002, having previously been recorded in 1947 in that part of vice-county 11 which is now in Dorset. Subsequently others have turned up in the Portsmouth area in 2011 and 2014, and Mottistone, IoW in 2017. An additional specimen has recently been identified from Cadnam Common, in 2022. Wingspan 14-23 mm. Larva feeds on Andryala integrifolia; no evidence of breeding in the UK.
Updated Feb 2024.
Updated Feb 2024.
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)
VC8 Wiltshire (Hants county)
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cadnam Common NT (SU21) | 26/07/2022 | one | Mike Baker | Adult |
VC10 Isle of Wight
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater (SZ38) | 15/06/2002 | one | Sam Knill-Jones | Adult |
| Mottistone Down (SZ48) | 29/06/2017 | one | Phil Barden | Adult |
VC11 South Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth (SZ09) | 03/07/1947 | one | Scarsdale C S Brown | Adult |
| Portsmouth (SU60) | 30/06/2011 | one | Ian Thirlwell | Adult |
| Southsea (SZ69) | 18/07/2014 | one | John R Langmaid | Adult |
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