Double Dart
Double Dart Graphiphora augur
The Double Dart (Graphiphora augur) is a noctuid moth of open woodland, scrub edges, and rough grassland, its larvae feeding on a range of low-growing and woody plants, including docks, sallows, and bramble. Although more widespread than some of the county’s rarer moths, it has declined across parts of its British range and is considered a species of conservation concern. In Suffolk, it is recorded across a variety of habitats, including heathland margins, woodland edges, and coastal scrub, and comes regularly to light traps.
False Mocha
False Mocha Cyclophora porata
The False Mocha (Cyclophora porata) is a delicate geometrid moth of mature oak woodland and woodland edge, its larvae feeding on oak. It has declined across Britain and is now a local and scarce species in much of its range, associated with ancient and semi-ancient oak woodland. In Suffolk it is recorded from the county’s larger broadleaved woodlands, particularly those on heavier soils in the south and west, and woodland parks with veteran oak.
Dingy Mocha
Dingy Mocha Cyclophora pendularia
The Dingy Mocha (Cyclophora pendularia) is a rare geometrid moth associated with sallow (Salix spp.) in wet heathland, valley bogs, and damp heathland edge habitats. It has declined significantly across Britain as wet heathland has been lost to drainage and development, and is now a scarce species with a restricted distribution in the south and east of England.
Goat Moth
Goat Moth Cossus cossus
The Goat Moth (Cossus cossus) is one of Britain’s largest moths, its substantial larvae boring into the heartwood of veteran trees – particularly willows, poplars, and ash – over a larval period that can last several years. It takes its name from the strong, goat-like smell produced by the larvae. Declining across Britain due to the loss of veteran trees and old orchards, it is a species that depends on the long-term continuity of suitable host trees.
White-spotted Pinion
White-spotted Pinion Cosmia diffinis
The White-spotted Pinion (Cosmia diffinis) is a scarce noctuid moth closely associated with elms (Ulmus spp.), particularly English Elm, its larvae feeding on elm foliage in hedgerows and woodland edges. The spread of Dutch elm disease from the 1970s onwards devastated elm populations across Britain and caused severe declines in this and other elm-dependent species.
Basil Thyme Case-bearer
Basil Thyme Case-bearer Coleophora tricolor
The Basil Thyme Case-bearer (Coleophora tricolor) is a small case-bearing micro-moth whose larvae feed on Basil Thyme (Clinopodium acinos), tying it intimately to one of the Breckland’s most characteristic and scarce plants. As both moth and foodplant are largely confined to open, disturbed calcareous and sandy ground in the Breckland of Suffolk and Norfolk, the county is of central importance to the species’ survival in Britain.
Water-dock Case-bearer
Water-dock Case-bearer Coleophora hydrolapathella
The Water-dock Case-bearer (Coleophora hydrolapathella) is one of Britain’s rarest micro-moths, a case-bearing species whose larvae feed exclusively on Great Water Dock (Rumex hydrolapathum) in fen, reedbed edge, and ditch-margin habitats. Nationally very scarce, it is associated with wetland systems in East Anglia and a handful of other areas where its foodplant is well established.
Concolorous
Concolorous Photedes extrema
The Concolorous (Photedes extrema) is a nationally scarce wainscot moth whose larvae feed within the stems of Wood Small-reed (Calamagrostis epigejos), making it a specialist of fen edges, heathland rides, and rough grassland where this tall grass occurs. It has a restricted distribution in Britain, with East Anglia forming a significant part of its range.
Fenn’s Wainscot
Fenn’s Wainscot Protarchanara brevilinea
Fenn’s Wainscot (Photedes brevilinea) is a nationally scarce noctuid moth associated with Wood Small-reed (Calamagrostis epigejos) and possibly other tall grasses of fen and reedbed margins. It has a restricted distribution in Britain, largely confined to East Anglia, and Suffolk is one of the most important counties for this species. The Waveney Valley and associated fen systems are particularly significant, and records from the county’s coastal and inland wetlands contribute to the national picture.
White-mantled Wainscot
White-mantled Wainscot Archanara neurica
The White-mantled Wainscot (Archanara neurica) is a scarce reedbed moth whose larvae feed within the stems of Common Reed (Phragmites australis), making it entirely dependent on extensive, well-managed reedbed. It is largely confined to coastal East Anglia, and Suffolk’s reedbeds are among the most important in Britain for this species. Key sites include the RSPB reserves at Minsmere and Lakenheath, as well as the extensive reedbeds of the Waveney Valley and Blyth estuary.