Duponchelia fovealis

Alternative names
European Pepper Moth
Dark Marbled Tabby
Description

Wingspan about 20mm.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

The species has the potential to be a pest in horticultural establishments, and there have been reported outbreaks in nurseries. On the continent it already has become such a pest in certain areas, and feeds on a wide range of host plants.

When to see it

The adults have generally been found on the wing in May and June.

Life History

Adventive species in Britain.

UK Status

An adventive species generally thought to be imported with cultivated plants. The first British record was of one found indoors in 1996, and there have been several indoor records since. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Migrant/Adventive.

VC55 Status

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = C (very scarce resident or rare migrant).

Reference
63.046 BF1403a

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

© OpenStreetMap contributors

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Dark Marbled Tabby
Species group:
Moths
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Crambidae
Records on NatureSpot:
12
First record:
29/08/2008 (Skevington, Mark)
Last record:
30/07/2024 (Gaten, Ted)

Total records by month

012345JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecRecords per month

% of records within its species group

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10km squares with records

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Common nameScientific nameDate recordedRecorded bySite name