Yorkshire Status: Very rare and very local vagrant.

There have been two records of this moth in Yorkshire. The first was trapped at Falling Foss in VC62 on 14/7/1994. The second was trapped at Durkar (Wakefield) on 11/8/2020. This will have been migrant moths; the second certainly arrived during a period of high migrant activity. Gypsy Moth was formerly resident in the East Anglian fens but declined after 1850, presumably because of drainage, and the last was seen in 1907. It continued to occur as a migrant, but from the 1990s, has been established in the London area. This population is spreading and has spread as far north as north Norfolk. On the continent and in North America (where it was accidentally introduced) it is regarded as a pest species as it can defoliate timber plantations. The original fenland population fed on bog myrtle and creeping willow, though the current population from the continent feeds on many broad-leaved trees, especially oak.

Recorded in 2 (1%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1994. Last Recorded in 2020. Additional Stats

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