Yorkshire Status: Fairly and widespread resident.

This species is well distributed across the county. Numbers appear to be stable. It is usually fairly easy to identify when fresh, with prominent white spots on the trailing edges of both wings, on the thorax, and two little white spots on the sides of the abdomen - the latter feature being almost diagnostic. Beware however that when worn it can look very like Golden-rod Pug which flies at the same time and also has a small second brood. Melanic forms can also be tricky and need dissection to be certain. Larvae from the first brood feed on elder whilst the second brood feeds on various members of the Apiaceae (or the Umbelliferae for the dinosaurs amongst us).

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Rather local but now recorded from all five vice-counties. There is often a partial second brood.

Recorded in 140 (70%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1883. Last Recorded in 2024. Additional Stats

Exit Recorder