Yorkshire Status: Scarce and local resident.

This is a moth of limestone grassland with common rock rose. We have two populations. In the west of the county, the main population is upper Wharfedale. Counts can be quite large at times, for example 206 counted at Kilnsey on 30/5/2020. In recent years it has turned up at several new sites, though in the adjacent part of VC65 it remains very local. The colonies in VC62 are not doing quite as well, though most years it is recorded from a handful of sites, usually in the Hawnby area. It has not been seen in VC61 since 1985. Nationally it seems to have disappeared from many former sites, particularly in the east of its range.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: This is a very rare species in Britain, having declined in many areas, especially in the south of England. Recent Yorkshire records are from vice-counties 61, 62 an 64, and there are no signs of any change in status since the 1970 list. The species requires rock rose in chalk or limestone areas and it is the demise of suitable habitat which has caused its decline elsewhere in the country.

Recorded in 20 (10%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1864. Last Recorded in 2023. Additional Stats

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