Latticed Heath

The wings usually have a netted, or ‘latticed’, appearance, created by dark cross lines and veins on the paler ground colour on the upper and underside of the wings. Rarely, a melanic form can occur.  Similar to the Common Heath and Netted Mountain Moth, but the resting posture of the former, with the wings held flat, should help to distinguish the Latticed Heath from that species. The markings of the Latticed Heath are also generally more defined than either of the other species.

Thye adults fly in sunshine and are also readily disturbed from vegetation. Thye also fly after dark. Very occasionally found in large numbers. The caterpillars can be found June to July and mid-August to September before overwintering as pupae.

Size and Family

• Family – Thorns, Beauties and allies (Ennomines)
• Small Sized 
• Wingspan Range – 22-30mm

Conservation status

• UK BAP: Priority species (Research only)
• Common

Caterpillar Food Plants

Clovers, trefoils and Lucerne (Medicago sativa).

Habitat

Found around Lucerne crops, but occurs elsewhere in open ground, including gardens, waste ground, calcareous grassland, fens, open woodland, heathland and moorland.

Distribution

• Countries – England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland
• Widely distributed in southern and central England, west Wales, northern England and southern Scotland, including the smaller Hebridean islands, and Ireland. Also recorded on the Isle of Man and the Channel islands.