Brussels Lace (Clerodes lichenaria)
Why so special?
Of the many rare moths recorded in and around Marden, this one is also very beautiful, and distinctive enough to make identification easy for the amateur. Last year, it was only recorded in two areas in VC 16, West Kent. In Marden, it was found in two locations over a mile apart, and in a period spanning two months. This shows that Marden has a healthy population of the moth. Most of the previous Kent records of Brussels Lace are near the East Kent coast. It’s good to see a 2026 record, recorded in the same place as last year.
Its lifestyle is interesting too, as instead of having a flower or grass foodplant, its larval stage feeds on the plentiful lichens in our local woods, which is referenced in its scientific name Clerodes lichenaria. Brussels Lace is the only species in the genus Clerodes. Truly a moth like no other!
The Brussels Lace Moth
