• National Status: Found in wide range of habitats throughout the UK, range contracting. Population trend 10 years -19%; since 1976 -37%.
• West Midlands Status: Widespread – range stable. Population trend 10 years – stable.

• Hotspots: Malvern Hills and Ryall in Worcestershire, Earls Hill in Shropshire. Sites: Prees Heath, The Bog, Highgate Common, Shobdon Hill, North Hill, Malvern.

• Habitat: Likes dry places including heathland – colonial but will wander. Found in all types of grassland including on acid soils, but absent from intensively farmed areas.

• Flight Period: Usually two generations in the West Midlands: April–June, particularly early May, and late July–October, with some November records in a good year.

• Wingspan 32–35 mm.

Caterpillar Food Plant: The main foodplants are Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) and Sheep’s Sorrel (Rumex acetosella). Broad-leaved Dock (Rumex obtusifolius) is also used.

Life Cycle

• The Charts show the distribution over the last 5 years widespread but not complete 2020 to 2025
• The Population Trend from Transect Records considered stable 2021 to 2025
• Phenology from Transect Records

Members Photograph