Yorkshire Status: Fairly common resident.

Black Rustic used to be a rarity in Yorkshire. In 1883 Porritt said "The Rev FO Morris gives Stockton Forest and Sutton-on-Derwent near York as localities, but both require confirmation" so it seems as if he never saw one in the county himself. It was not found again in Yorkshire until the 1970s, and remained very elusive until about 1996 when it gradually became more common and spread out from its strongholds in the south of VC63 and the western fringes of the county. It can now be encountered all across Yorkshire. Similar expansion has been noted into other parts of eastern England. The biggest concentrations still occur in VC63 and 64. It tends to be a moth of open grassy heathy and moorland habitats, though it can occur in any herb-rich grassy areas and is not uncommon in gardens. Numbers still seem to be increasing. Counts into double figures are not uncommon, the maximum being 53 at Fishlake on 17/9/23. It is easy to identify when fresh, but could possibly be confused with Deep-brown Dart. The dark black glossy wings together with the white outer edging to the reniform stigma however are good pointers.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: In the fifty years preceding the publication of the last list (YNU, 1970) this species was only recorded once in the County. It has since been recorded several times and still seems to be increasing its range in Yorkshire. So far, however, there are only two sites where repeated records suggest it may be established.

Recorded in 136 (68%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1960. Last Recorded in 2023. Additional Stats

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