73.229 BF2251

Flame Brocade Trigonophora flammea

(Esper, 1785)

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Wingspan 44-52 mm.

Formerly resident in Sussex, becoming extinct there in the late 19th Century, the species is now resident only in the Channel Islands and elsewhere it is only an immigrant.

Adults have appeared, usually at coastal light-traps along England's southern shores, mainly from Hampshire westwards.

The normal flight period is October and November, most immigrants turning up in the former month.

The caterpillar feeds on low plants such as buttercup (Ranunculus) in the early stages, later preferring such species as ash (Fraxinus) and privet (Ligustrum).