Belted Beauty

Often found near common bird's-foot trefoil and kidney vetch. Coastal. The male sometimes flies in the afternoon sunshine, whilst both sexes can often be found at rest on fence posts, dry plant stems etc. The male also flies from early evening.

The larvae can be seen from May to July. The overwinter as pupae just below the ground.

Size and Family

• Family – Thorns, Beauties and allies (Ennomines)
• Medium Sized 
• Wingspan Range - 26-32mm

Conservation Status

• Subspecies britannica
      UK BAP: Priority species
      Rare (Red Data Book category 3)

• Subspecies atlantica
      UK BAP: Not listed
      Scarce (Nationally Scarce A)

Caterpillar Food Plants

Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), but also on clovers, Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Creeping Willow (Salix repens), Burnet Rose (Rosa pimpinellifolia) and plantains, as well as Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus).

Habitat

Coastal. Found on the machair of the Hebrides. Elsewhere it occurs on sand-dunes and, in one case, on a sandy salting.

Distribution

• Countries – England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland
• Now only found on two sites in north-west England and one site in north Wales, whereas in Scotland it is restricted to the west coast of Scotland, occurring on the Hebrides, the Ardnamurchan Peninsula, Mull, Iona, Colonsay and Islay. In Ireland it has been found on the western coast and historically in Co. Antrim.