Small Dotted Buff - Photedes minima
Wingspan 20-23 mm. The females are smaller than the males and are more well-marked; the males are plain buffish with darker dots along the veins and often show a slight glossy sheen.
Occupying marshy localities, damp woodland and similar habitats.
The moths fly from June to August in a single brood.
The larvae feed on the stems of Tufted Hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa).
A fairly common species over much of the British Isles. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = A (common and resident)
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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Species profile
- Common names
- Small Dotted Buff
- Species group:
- insect - moth
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Lepidoptera
- Family:
- Noctuidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 153
- First record:
- 24/06/2003 (Skevington, Mark)
- Last record:
- 13/07/2025 (Pugh, Dylan)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
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