Yorkshire Status: Fairly widespread resident.

According to Rothamsted data this species declined nationally by 98% between 1968 and 2002 making it the moth with the biggest drop in numbers. This seems to have been most marked in the south of England though according to the Atlas, populations have started to recover. In Yorkshire, apart from a dip in numbers between 2008 and 2012, it has been doing remarkably well and numbers in the county seem to be particularly healthy at the moment. This species may be prone to major fluctuations and it is interesting that Porritt regarded it as generally scarce in 1883 which he altered to local but not uncommon in 1907. Records are currently spread all across the county with the exception of the far west. We are near the northern edge of the range for this species. As it is an ash-feeder, we worry what the effects of ash die-back will have on its numbers.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Widely distributed and sometimes locally common in an area for a few years. Many populations seem to either be transitory or subject to large variation in numbers.

Recorded in 143 (72%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1883. Last Recorded in 2023. Additional Stats

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