Yorkshire Status: Scarce and local resident.

"Common on heaths" said Porritt in 1883. This has always been a species of upland moorland and lowland heaths, the larvae feeding on heather. Alas it has declined in numbers and although it occurs on our moors, it seems to have deserted the lowlands. Formerly resident at Strensall, Skipwith and Thorne and Hatfield Moors, the last record was at Skipwith in 1985. Nationally it has disappeared from many of its old haunts, mostly lowland locations. Analysis shows that in Yorkshire it has moved upwards at 2.3m/year over the last 20 years. Do not despair however for all is not lost. It is still seen regularly in many moorland settings in the north and west of the county, and over the last few years, numbers have actually increased. In addition, moths have on several recent occasions been seen several miles from apparently suitable habitat in more lowland settings. Whether these are just wandering moths or whether it is trying to recolonise the lowlands, we will have to wait and see.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Still occasionally reported from heath and moorland areas but several recent records have come from sites where areas of suitable habitat are less extensive. This moth may have been the first to have been recorded in Yorkshire:- in the Aurelian (1766) Moses Harris records this species and figures it from specimens taken from the Halifax moors sent to him by the early mycologist J. Bolton. Harris knew of no other site for the species in Britain at the time (per PS).

	Retained Specimen / Photograph will be Required.

Recorded in 65 (33%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1880. Last Recorded in 2023. Additional Stats

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