• National Status: Restricted range mainly in central southern counties with outlying colonies in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. Population trend 10 years +25%; since 1976 +50%.
• West Midlands Status: Stronghold is Worcestershire with continuing range expansion to the north and to the west. Population trend 10 years – decreasing.

• Hotspots: Saltwells LNR in Dudley, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire. Sites: Highgate Common, Ewyas Harold, Haugh Wood, Doward, Coppett Hill, Portway Hill, Woodgate Valley.

• Habitat: Tall unimproved grassland. Colonial but more mobile than some other grassland species.

• Flight Period: One brood emerging late June peaking in mid-July and declining into August. In West  Midlands, colonies generally have a short flight period of 2–3 weeks.

• Wingspan 53–58 mm.

Caterpillar Food Plant – The main foodplants are Red Fescue (Festuca rubra), Sheep’s-fescue (Festuca ovina), Tor-grass (Brachypodium pinnatum) and Yorkshire-fog (Holcus lanatus).

Life Cycle

• The Charts show the distribution over the last 5 years – widespread in Worcestershire but scatter in the other counties.- moving north see also atlas from 2000 to 2005
• The Population Trend from Transect Records considered significant increase. 2020 to 2025
• Phenology from Casual Records

Members Photographs