Yorkshire Status: Scarce and thinly distributed or restricted resident.

The name of this species is a bit of a misnomer as its main food plant is hawthorn, though it does also feed on oak. The main confusion species is Brindled Pug, but Oak-tree Pug is considerably smaller with shorter rounder wings and usually a pale patch outside its prominent oval discal spot. It also tends to fly two to three weeks later than Brindled Pug. It must have been much less common in the past as in 1883 Porritt described it as "another scarce species" and the next specimen did not turn up until 1976. It now seems to be well distributed across most of the county, though in much smaller numbers than Brindled Pug. Nationally it is doing well and expanding its range.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: In 1976 the first record of this species occurred since Porritt's list (1883-86) and it has now been recorded in all five vice-counties.

Recorded in 101 (51%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1861. Last Recorded in 2023. Additional Stats

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