73.027 BF2413

Silver Barred Deltote bankiana

(Fabricius, 1775)

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Wingspan 24-28 mm.

Occupying marshes, fenland and boggy heathland, this species is a well established but localised
resident in the Cambridgeshire fens and at a coastal marsh in south east Kent. It also occurs as a
probable immigrant / suspected transient resident in the south east and central south of England. In
Ireland it is restricted to peat bogs in Counties Cork and Kerry.

The adults can be readily disturbed in the day and fly from dusk onwards, regularly coming to light.
It is a single-brooded species flying from early June to mid-July.

The larvae feed in July and August on grasses, including purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea) and smooth meadow-grass (Poa pratensis), before pupating in a silken cocoon close to the ground for overwintering.