Sussex Emerald – Ian Hodgson
Sussex Emerald Thalera fimbrialis (1763, 70.304) is a Red Data Book species and is protected in Britain. It is only known to breed on shingle beeches in Kent. Up until 2006 it was only reported at Dungeness but since then there have been isolated but increasing reports from further east along the coast with the most easterly records coming from Sandwich in 2015 and 2016. These individuals are most likely migrants. It is presumed extinct in East Sussex since 1956 and was never detected in West Sussex.
In and around Dungeness numbers have fluctuated between 30 to 300 counts since the early 1990s. 2006 and 2013 were exceptional years with counts of over 500.
The larval foodplant is mostly wild carrot.
Earliest and latest dates recorded:
| East Kent VC 15 | ||
| Earliest date | 6 May | |
| Latest date | 24 September |
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- Distribution of Sussex Emerald in Kent
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- Phenology of Sussex Emerald in Kent
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- Sussex Emerald – Ian Hodgson
Kent Moth Group - this website now closed 