Photo © Mike Wall

White-spotted Pinion

Cosmia diffinis

Checklist Number
73.214 [B&F: 2317]

Verification
Record will normally be accepted but photo evidence may be required - check with CMR if not sure of identity

Classification

Family:Noctuidae
Subfamily:Xyleninae
Genus:Cosmia
Species:diffinis
Authority:(Linnaeus, 1767)

Nationally scarce (Na) in woodland, thickets, copses and plantations in parts of southern England, extending sparsely as far north as the southern Lake District, a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight always local and rare in the county, this is another elm-feeder that has virtually gone. Wingspan 28-36 mm. Characterised by the prominent white markings on the costa. Larva feeds on English Elm, Wych Elm and Small-leaved Elm, over-wintering as an egg.

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)

No Larval records to show.

VC10 Isle of Wight

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Freshwater (SZ38)1856-Robert SaundbyAdult
Bembridge (SZ68)1856-Robert SaundbyAdult
Parkhurst Forest (SZ49)1856-IWGAdult
Cowes (SZ59)1856-IWGAdult
St. Lawrence (SZ57)1910oneIWGAdult
Freshwater (SZ38)07/08/1960oneIWGAdult
Freshwater (SZ38)20/08/1961oneMajor ScottAdult
Freshwater (SZ38)22/07/1966oneSam Knill-JonesAdult
Newtown (SZ49)12/08/1966-Sam Knill-JonesAdult
Parkhurst Forest (SZ49)1980-Sam Knill-JonesAdult
Shanklin (SZ58)1980-Sam Knill-JonesAdult
Queen's Bower (SZ58)1980-Peter J CrampAdult
Newtown Harbour (SZ49)1982-Peter J Cramp-
Shanklin (SZ58)02/08/1982onePeter J CrampAdult
Shanklin (SZ58)02/08/1982-AnonAdult
Shanklin (SZ58)11/08/1984-Jim M ChevertonAdult
Shanklin (SZ58)11/08/1984oneJim M ChevertonAdult

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Yew Hill NR (SU33)25/05/1985-Jim M ChevertonAdult
Chilling (SU50)06/08/1991oneJim M ChevertonAdult
Hurn (SZ19)02/06/2014twoWayne BorrasAdult

VC12 North Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Monk Sherborne (SU65)1966-Peter M Potts-
Old Basing (SU65)17/06/2005oneMike JeffesAdult
Pamber Forest (SU66)30/05/2008oneBRC filesAdult

VC22 West Berkshire (Hants county)

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Mortimer West End (SU66)02/07/1993oneJames AndrewsAdult
Mortimer West End (SU66)15/07/1993oneGraham DennisAdult
Mortimer West End (SU66)22/08/1993oneGraham DennisAdult