The best sites are grassy areas close to sea walls, such as this one at Kirby-le-Soken. Here, smooth tare forms clumps or mats and support the highest moth popul-ations.

Plants found on sea walls or in meadows such as at High Woods, Colchester, tend to be straggly and have a lower density of moths.

Records:
Essex:
Old Hall Marsh N.R.(TL9612) Adults, 17 May 1997 (Brian Goodey)
Little Wigborough, Copt Hall (TL9814) Adults, 29 May 2003 (Andy Cook)
High Woods C.P. Colchester (TM0027) Adults and larvae from 2001 to 2004 (Brian Goodey)
Fingringhoe Wick N.R.(TM0419) Adults and larvae in 1973, not since (Maitland Emmet)
Kirby-le-Soken, Quay Lane (TM2222) Adults and larvae in 2003 and 2004 (Paul Bergdahl)
Little Oakley (TM2226) Adults and larvae from 1973 to 1996 (Maitland Emmet)
Dovercourt (TM2230) Adults at light from 1998 to 1999 (Chris Gibson)
Dovercourt Dunes (TM2429) Adults, 31 May1998 (Brian Goodey)

Suffolk:
Erwarton (TM2233) 5 June 2004 (Tony Prichard). Adult swept from smooth tare.

Dorset:
Eype’s Mouth (SY4491), 28 June 2000 (David Gibbs, John Langmaid). Adult swept from smooth tare.

Failed surveys:
Essex:
Maldon, north-east along sea wall (TL9208), May 2003 (Andy Cook)
East Mersea (TM0614), May 1998 (Brian Goodey)
Fingringhoe, Ferry Road (TM0420), June 1997 (Brian Goodey)
Abberton (TL9920), June 2000 (Brian Goodey)
Friday Wood (TL9820), June 2000 (Brian Goodey)
Jaywick (TM1513), June 2001 (Brian Goodey)

Suffolk:
Flatford (TM0733), 6 June 2002 (Brian Goodey)
Shotley (TM2534), 4 June 2004 (Brian Goodey)
Felixtowe (TM2834), 4 June 2004 (Brian Goodey)
Shingle Street (TM3642), 13 Une 2004 (Tony Prichard)