Species Account

Select species and region:

Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Common

Local Status: Uncommon and thinly distributed resident. Under-recorded?

Local Record: Grade 1 See here for explanation

Flight time: One generation, Oct-Jan, peak late Oct-early Nov.

Forewing: 15-21mm.

Foodplant: Broadleaved trees, Oak, Birch, Elm etc.

IMPORTANT - Please note that the maps and accounts are provisional, subject to change and further update. The whole dataset still needs to go through the final verification process and it is likely that a very small number of records will not satisfy the present requirements and there are other records that have not been formally submitted. The information is for guidance only.

Record breakdown:

	VC9	VC11	Region
Year first recorded	1955	1983	1955
Year last recorded	2011	2011	2011
Number of records	646	79	1450
Number of individuals	6246	215	12922
Unique positions	76	4	160
Unique locations	62	4	132
Adult records	633	79	1424
Immature records	1	0	2

For the region, we have a total of 1450 records from 132 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1955.

Photos

Species Account

For further information refer UK Moths.

Davey, P., 2009: A widespread species in the British Isles, the larva feeding on a large range of deciduous trees and shrubs.

In Dorset, the moth is abundant in deciduous woodland containing birch (Betula spp.), elm (Ulmus spp.), hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) or blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), and common amongst coastal blackthorn thickets, but less frequent elsewhere.

The moth is readily attracted to light and has been observed by the author, flying at a lighted window in sub-zero temperatures and snow falling.

See background to species accounts. Index of Vernacular names - Search - Random Species