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Square-spotted Clay
Xestia stigmatica (Esper, 1790)
Noctuidae: Noctuinae
2131 / 73.354
Photo © Ben Sale,  Stevenage, Hertfordshire (12/08/19)

Similar Herts & Middlesex Species
Purple Clay
Diarsia brunnea
Triple-spotted Clay
Xestia ditrapezium
Forewing: 17-20mm.
Flight: One generation July-Aug.
Foodplant:   Common Nettle, Dog's Mercury and Oxlip.
Red List: Least Concern (LC)
GB Status: Common
Former Status: Nationally Scarce B
Verification Grade:  Adult: 2

General comments
Widespread resident in Hertfordshire. Currently absent from Middlesex

The Square-spotted Clay has been regarded recently as a rare moth in Britain and until recently was categorised as a UK Biodiversity Action Plan species and included in English Nature's 'Species Recovery Programme'. In spite of this, it almost immediately recovered. Although the inclusion was wise, the moth has nevertheless demonstrated that sometimes enormous population swings are quite normal. Rather more worrying is the absence from Middlesex.

Recorded in 24 (59%) of 41 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1887.
Last Recorded in 2023.

Latest Records
Date#VC10k - General Area
06/09/2023120SP90 - Berkhamsted
02/09/2023120TL42 - Bishop's Stortford (N)
01/09/2023120TL21 - Welwyn Garden City
22/08/2023220TL42 - Bishop's Stortford (N)
22/08/2023120TL42 - Bishop's Stortford (N)
20/08/2023120TL21 - Welwyn Garden City
19/08/2023120TL22 - Stevenage
19/08/2023120TL34 - Royston (S)
12/08/2023120TL42 - Bishop's Stortford (N)
09/08/2023120TL23 - Letchworth / Baldock
Further info: Xestia stigmatica
 
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