73.028 BF2415

Pale Shoulder Acontia lucida

(Hufnagel, 1766)

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Wingspan 26-30 mm.

A rare migrant to the south coast, there were a number of records in the 19th century, and then none until two appeared on the same night in August 1994, in Kent and Dorset. Since then there have been a handful of records, mainly in July and August.

Abroad, it occurs in southern Europe, where it flies between May and August in two broods. It prefers to fly on sunny days, but the recent British records have all been to light at night.

On the continent it feeds on mallow (Malva and Althaea spp.) and field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis).