Yorkshire Status: Uncommon and fairly widespread resident.

This is probably the most attractive of our Swift moths and the one which is least often encountered. Identification is usually fairly easy, though beware the plainer-looking female which sometimes fools recorders. It is often found at dusk, the males flying round the food plant exuding a pheromone which is said to smell like pineapple! It also comes to light in small numbers. Is is usually found in open woodland with bracken, especially in semi-upland areas, though it can be found in areas away from bracken so the larvae must feed at times on the roots of grasses and herbaceous plants. Numbers seem to be stable.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Recorded from all five vice-counties and often very common where it does occur, although it flies before dark and is seldom taken at light. Bracken is a main foodplant but it may also be numerous well away from any apparently suitable habitat.

Recorded in 112 (56%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1879. Last Recorded in 2023. Additional Stats

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