Yorkshire Status: Fairly common resident.

This attractive woodland species feeds on a variety of broad-leaved trees and not just alder, and is widespread in small numbers all over the county. In the past is was much less common, and although in 1883 Porritt was able to list several sites where it occurred, he commented "always considered a great rarity". The very distinctive larva is often reported and has been seen on alder, oak and bird cherry in Yorkshire. It is doing fairly well though numbers seem to fluctuate a lot from year to year, and in a good year we can get over 50 records. Its range has spread in recent years through northern England and up into Scotland. It is usually seen in small numbers, though 14 were trapped at North Cliffe Wood on 19/5/2022.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Rather more local than either A. megacephala (Denis & Schiffermiiller) or A. leporina (Linnaeus). However, it is the only one of these recorded in VC65, albeit in the very south. (Note, however, that although Dunn and Parrack (1986) list the two aforementioned species for Northumberland and Durham, the present species has never been recorded in either county). Characteristically recorded once or twice a year over a period of several years, but nowhere reported to be common.

Recorded in 125 (63%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1807. Last Recorded in 2024. Additional Stats

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