Yorkshire Status: Fairly common resident.

Things have changed a lot since Porritt wrote "a scarce species with us" in 1883. There were only two more records up to as recently as 1978 when it began to be recorded more frequently, but it is only since the turn of the century that it has become widespread across the county, though in small numbers. There is no sign of the expansion slowing down and 2023 brought a high spot of 254 records. It occurs in two separated broods in Yorkshire, the second being larger. Like a lot of green moths, the colour fades quite quickly to a yellowish colour, hence the vernacular name, though the scientific name, viretata tells us it is green.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: There have been a few scattered records of this species since 1978, the first since the late 1920s. Its foodplants are found over much of the County so why it should have been absent or unrecorded for so long is unclear.

Recorded in 122 (61%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1883. Last Recorded in 2023. Additional Stats

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