Yorkshire Status: Common and fairly widespread resident.

Unlike many of the related species, Lunar Underwing has become commoner since Porritt's lists, when he described it as "not generally common" in 1883. The distribution is a little patchy, and it is absent from north-western parts of the county, but in eastern and central areas it can be very common indeed. Numbers are stable in Yorkshire. The biggest counts have all come from Spurn, the maximum being 563 on 24/9/2006 but some inland sites can attract large numbers for example 206 at Spofforth on 16/9/2006. This is a grassland moth, though it commonly comes into gardens. It can be quite easy to mistake if for Beaded Chestnut which has a much narrower and less-rounded orbicular stigma. Lunar Underwing usually has quite prominent pale veins, and if you can get a glance at the hindwing, identification is much easier, as the curved "lunar" marking is diagnostic.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Now much less local and also much more common where it does occur. Recorded quite widely, including in the Harrogate area where it was previously notable by its absence (YNU, 1970).

Recorded in 139 (70%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1883. Last Recorded in 2024. Additional Stats

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