Sword-grass moth  (Xylena exsoleta)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Range

Unfortunately, this moth has suffered a massive decline in the UK since the 1960s. It was once widespread but has been observed in England on only a handful of occasions since 1980. It may hang on as a resident breeding species in both Wales and Northern Ireland but is not recorded often (2). It still breeds over quite a large area in Scotland and is more regularly recorded there (2).

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Habitat

This species utilises a variety of habitats, but tends to occur in moorland or upland sites (2).

left