Yorkshire Status: Abundant and widespread resident.

"Abundant everywhere except perhaps on some of the exposed parts of the coasts" said Porritt in 1883. The same could be said today. Foodplants include a wide variety of broad-leaved trees, so this is a woodland moth, though it often comes to gardens. It over-winters as an adult and is equally commonly encountered before hibernation from September to November, as after the colder weather from February to April or even May. It can be tempted out to visit the moth trap in low numbers on warm winter nights. The biggest counts tend to be in March and April, though the maximum is 168 at Skelton Castle on 15/2/2012. Do take care not to mistake this species for the less common Dark Chestnut. See that species for the differences. Moths in March and April are far more likely to be Chestnut. Sometimes moths appear where it is almost possible to decide which of the two species it is. These are best not recorded!

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Widespread in woodlands in all five vice-counties and often quite common, especially in the south. Rather sporadic in other habitats.

Recorded in 151 (76%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1846. Last Recorded in 2024. Additional Stats

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