Key to Text Moths of Northamptonshire

Key to Map
  The Butterbur Hydraecia petasitis  
         
  Status: Resident.

Distribution and Abundance: Very local.

Primary Habitat: Wetland.

Flight Period: Single brooded in August and September.

Localities: Brampton Crossing and Apethorpe.

Observations: The moth can be plentiful in its localities. Soon after dark on 11 September 1985 some dozen moths were observed flying over the butterbur growing along the Willow Brook at Apethorpe. Actinic light traps left overnight produced a fair catch of moths in the morning but almost all of the moths were very worn. Although the species is almost certainly under recorded in the county, numerous attempts to find a colony amongst the large butterbur subspecies growing at Kelmarsh Lake have failed.

L.O.N.: 1907. Near Weldon, Blatherwyck. Not common.

First Record: 1907, Cornish.