70.272 BF1949 – Square Spot – Geometridae – Paradarisa consonaria
Square Spot – Geometridae – Ennominae – Paradarisa consonaria – colour code •
STATUS – This species prefers woodland habitat, and is locally distributed in the south of England, Wales and southern Ireland, with scattered occurrences to northern England. So for one to be attracted to a light trap at Hartington, near Buxton, is an extremely unusual occurrence. This is the first VC57 record of this species, and it was recorded on 26/5/2016. The record was discovered whilst verifying old county records on iNaturalist. The recorder will be light trapping in the same area in 2024, so it will be interesting to see if this species still exists in the area, or if it was a one-off occurrence of a blow-in migrant.
ID POINTERS – In common with many members of the family, this moth is quite variable and has a tendency to melanism. Well-marked individuals are quite easy to identify from the dark square spot on the forewing which gives rise to its English name. The confusion species, Engrailed, has the square-like blotch set away from the ‘W’ mark on outer edge on forewing, whereas on Square Spot it touches the ‘W’ mark on outer edge.
FLIGHT PERIOD – On the wing April to June.
IMAGES – Hartington, Buxton, Derbyshire – Image provided by Stephen Moores©
