Photo © Mike Wall
Pale Shoulder
Acontia lucida
Checklist Number73.028 [B&F: 2415]
Verification
Record will require further evidence, at least a good photograph, unless CMR is aware recorder has confidence in identification
Classification
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Subfamily: | Acontiinae |
| Genus: | Acontia |
| Species: | lucida |
| Authority: | (Hufnagel, 1766) |
Rare immigrant from southern Europe, appearing in southern England on approximately 15 occasions in the 19th Century, but there were none for over 100 years until the 1990s, since when there have been over 60 reports nationwide, including 20+ in 2020 with indications of local breeding in Sussex. In our area, the first was in the New Forest in 1996, with further individuals in North Hampshire in 2004 and Isle of Wight in 2013, representing firsts for each of the three vice-counties. Since 2018 it has been more or less annual, with three on the Island in 2022. Wingspan 30-32 mm. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on Ground-ivy, Field Bindweed, Common Mallow, Dwarf Mallow and Marsh-mallow.
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)
VC10 Isle of Wight
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheelers Bay (SZ57) | 02/08/2013 | one | Alan Jafkins | Adult |
| Totland (SZ38) | 27/07/2019 | one | Mike Halsey | Adult |
| Bonchurch (SZ57) | 14/08/2022 | one | Andy Butler | Adult |
| Wheelers Bay (SZ57) | 27/08/2022 | one | Sam Knill-Jones | Adult |
| Wheelers Bay (SZ57) | 27/08/2022 | one | James Halsey | Adult |
VC11 South Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linford (SU10) | 19/08/1996 | one | Iain Outlaw | Adult |
| Dibden Purlieu (SU40) | 11/06/2018 | one | Andy Butler | Adult |
| Northney, Hayling Island (SU70) | 31/07/2020 | - | Andy Page | Adult |
VC12 North Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherborne St John (SU65) | 13/08/2004 | one | Robert A Chapman | Adult |
| Basingstoke (SU65) | 25/07/2019 | one | John W Phillips | Adult |
