Yorkshire Status: Common and widespread resident.

In 1907 Porritt said that this species was "seldom seen in the south-west but apparently not uncommon in most other parts". It has probably increased since then and is now fairly common across most of the county, especially the south-west. Numbers seem to be slowly increasing all the time. This is a moth of woodland, scrub and gardens, the larvae feeding on honeysuckle. Although the normal flight time is March and April, it is not uncommon to find it flying in January or February. True to its name, it is the earliest-flying of the grey Noctuids and is not likely to be misidentified.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Rather local but recorded more frequently than in previous years.

Recorded in 145 (73%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1883. Last Recorded in 2023. Additional Stats

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