Key to Text Moths of Northamptonshire

Key to Map
  The Four-spotted Tyta luctuosa  
         
  Status: Resident.

Distribution and Abundance: Local.

Primary Habitat: Waste ground.

Flight period: Double brooded from May to August.

Localities: Stoke Wood, Wakerley old railway line, Werrington Junction and Ring Haw.

Observations: Recorded in small numbers in most localities but can be numerous at Werrington Junction. The species could well be present on other disused railway lines in the county. In 2005 a singleton was taken in a light trap in Yardley Chase. There is an unresolved issue on the county’s various single records of the moth as to whether these are wanderers from established colonies or sporadic immigrants. I favour the former explanation.

L.O.N.: 1907. Ashton, Thrapston. Very local.

First record: 1902, Kidner.