Anomalous (Stilbia anomala)
Key Details
| Taxonomic Groups: | Invertebrate > insect - moth > Moth |
| Red List Status: | (Not Relevant) [(not listed)(nr)] |
| D5 Status: | |
| Section 41 Status: | (not listed) |
| Taxa Included Synonym: | (none) |
| UKSI Recommended Name: | Stilbia anomala |
| UKSI Recommended Authority: | (Haworth, 1812) |
| UKSI Recommended Qualifier: | (none specified) |
| Red List Citation: | (not listed) |
| Notes on taxonomy/listing: | (none) |
Criteria
| Question 1: | Does species need conservation or recovery in England? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | GB Red List (Fox et al. 2019): VU; GB long term distribution decline of 43% and abundance decline of 90%. Both trends are likely to be worse in England than GB. |
| Question 2: | Does recovery/ conservation depend on species-specific actions? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Reasons for its decline are unknown but may relate to intensification of management in the uplands or on climatic factors. Research is required to determine reasons for decline. |
| Question 3: | At a landscape scale, would the species benefit from untargeted habitat management to increase habitat mosaics, structural diversity, or particular successional stages? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | There is no evidence to support this but it could be argued that this species would benefit from increased diversity of structure and habitat. |
Species Assessment
| Current step on the Species Recovery Curve (SRC): | 4. Autecology and pressures understood |
| Recovery potential/expectation: | Unknown |
| National Monitoring Resource: | Opportunistic - insufficient |
| Species Comments: | Autecology of species not well understood. Key Action 1 should help to increase knowledge, further information provided in action comments |
Key Actions
Key Action 1
Proposed Action: Autecology of the species is not well understood, and requires research to determine habitat management requirements
Action targets: 4. Autecology and pressures understood
Action type: Scientific research
Duration: 3-5 years
Scale of Implementation: National
High priority sites: Widespread in uplands, also in Brecks, New Forest, Cornwall
Comments: Feeds on various upland grasses, and nocturnal feeder. Pupates on the ground in a cocoon. Overwinters as a part grown larva.
Key Action 2
Proposed Action: Once autecology understood (Key Action 1), advise on appropriate habitat management at key sites.
Action targets: 5. Remedial action identified
Action type: Advice & support
Duration: 3-5 years
Scale of Implementation: National
High priority sites: Widespread in uplands, also in Brecks, New Forest, Cornwall
Comments: Consider trials or experimental habitat management to identify what works if required.
Acknowledgment:
Data used on this website are adapted from Threatened species recovery actions 2025 baseline (JP065): Technical report and spreadsheet user guide (Natural England, 2025). Available here.