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  Pretty Chalk Carpet Melanthia procellata  
         
 

B&F: 1784

ABH: 70.128

Status: Resident.

Distribution and Abundance: Local.

Primary Habitat: Woodland.

Flight Period: Single brooded from June to August.

Localities: Salcey Forest, Geddington Chase, Blatherwyke Lake and Bedford Purlieus.

Observations: The species is generally most plentiful in the north of the county, although it is well established in the southern woodlands of Salcey Forest and Yardley Chase. It is less frequent in mid Northants. Light trapping records for 2002 from Old Sulehhay Forest show fifteen moths recorded in five sessions between 25 June and 28 August as follows:-
25 June - 7,    9 July - 2,   24 July - 5,  6 August - 0  and 28 August - 1.

L.O.N.: 1904. Whittlebury, Castle Ashby, Wansford. Larvae not uncommon on C. Vitalba.

First Record: 1842, Clark.