Drepanidae : Thyatirinae
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Photo © David Hunt,  Harpenden, Hertfordshire (15/06/21)

Similar Herts & Middlesex Species
Poplar Lutestring
Tethea or
Figure of Eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
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Figure of Eighty
Tethea ocularis

(Hübner, 1786) 1654 / 65.010

General comments:
British examples of this species relate to subspecies octogesimea Hubner; the nominotypical subspecies is prevalent in mainland Europe but absent from Britain.

Hertfordshire Notes:
The melanic form, presumably ab. fusca Cockayne, represented about 75 per cent of the Hertfordshire population during 1995 to 2006, although this is an estimate based on my own field survey and limited examination of other collections; the forms are rarely reported within annual lists received. I have not surveyed percentages since that period. It is interesting to note that in 1979 Ian Lorimer noted that the proportion of melanics at Totteridge was 'consistently increasing' suggesting that prior to that date the typical form may have been more common. Our earliest record is that from Wilstone Reservoir on 17th July 1902 (Barraud, 1903), Foster (1937) lists it from Bricket Wood, Hitchin, Watford, Hoddesdon, Aldenham and Berkhamsted, though the latter is incorrect and refers to four taken at sugar and light at Ashridge in 1934 (Hodgson, 1939). It appears to have been a common and widespread species throughout the last hundred years at least.

Middlesex Notes:
Widespread and common, though catches rarely exceed single figures. Although affecting almost the entire area of the county. there is a thinning out of sites in the urban south-east (=London).

Recorded in 34 (83%) of 41 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1900.
Last Recorded in 2024.
Additional Stats

< Buff Arches | Poplar Lutestring >

List Species Records   [Show All Latest]
Latest 5 Records
Date#VC10k Area
25/05/2024121TQ09 - Watford / Rickmansworth
11/05/2024121TQ38 - City of London / Hackney
09/05/2024121TQ09 - Watford / Rickmansworth
09/05/2024520TQ09 - Watford / Rickmansworth
12/08/2023120TL23 - Letchworth / Baldock
Show Details | 1990 to 2023 | 2000 to 2023 | Graph Key
Express Record Figure of Eighty
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VC20 VC21 VC21 VC20
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Forewing: 16-20mm.
Flight: One generation. May-July.
Foodplant:   Aspen and other Poplars
Red List: Least Concern (LC)
GB Status: Common
Verification Grade:  Adult: 1
 Immature Adult   [Show Flight Weeks]
© hertsmiddxmoths.uk 2024 NOLA®; Database using MapMate® Digital Maps © Bartholomew 2010. Design © Jim Wheeler 2024
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