• National Status: Widely distributed throughout the UK, range stable. Population trend 10 years +1%; since 1976 -17%.
• West Midlands Status: Found throughout the region in varying numbers, range stable. Population trend 10 years – stable after large increase in 2010.

• Hotspots: Knapp and Papermill and St Wulstan’s in Worcestershire, Common Hill in Herefordshire. Brownfield sites can also support good numbers. Sites: Prees Heath, Shobdon Hill, Ewyas Harold, Doward, Trench Wood, Woodgate Valley.

• Habitat: Sunny, open areas particularly flowery meadows and waste ground.

• Flight Period: Generally two generations in the West Midlands. Adults fly from late April to mid-June and mid-July to September.

• Wingspan 29–36 mm

Life Cycle

Caterpillar Food Plant – The main foodplant is Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). Black Medick (Medicago lupulina), Common Restharrow (Ononis repens), Greater Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus), Lesser Trefoil (Trifolium dubium) and White Clover (Trifolium repens) are also used.

Trend Line for last 5 years using selected sites ——–   Best sites for species over the last 5 years

• The Charts show the distribution over the last 5 years from 2020 to 2024
• The Population Trend from Transect Records 2019 to 2024.
• Phenology from All Records

Member photographs