A common resident across the region.

A species of gardens, hedges, marshes, fens and woodland edges.

Overwinters as a small larva and adults come readily to light.

Diachrysia stenochrysis (Warren, 1915)

In Britain, we have regarded typical D. chrysitis as being the form in which the forewings bear two more or less parallel brassy bands that are separated by the darker ground colour. Where these two bands coalesce to create an effective 'H' shape we have regarded this as being either ab. juncta Tutt or ab. tutti Kostrowicki.

The Pacific Burnished Brass D. stenochrysis (also called the Cryptic Burnished Brass), is a valid species that has spread westwards from the Far East and almost certainly now occurs in Britain. It sports the 'H' shape marking, but this alone is insufficient to name it.

Voucher specimens, in which the horizontal bar of the 'H' shape is formed of a line that is at least 3mm thick should be retained. Dissection is inconclusive; specimens will need DNA sequencing.

It is impossible to segregate records; both 'parallel' and 'H' forms are widespread across the region in both generations, although 'H' forms appear to be numerically superior. They are all mapped as one, but undoubtedly some may be Pacific Burnished Brass (Derived from Plant, C.W.)

Recorded in 120 (86%) of 140 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1887. Last Recorded in 2024. (Data up to end 2024) Additional Stats

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