Yorkshire Status: Abundant and widespread migrant.

"Abundant everywhere" said Porritt in 1883. Not a lot has changed. This is the commonest migrant species, and can also claim to be our most widespread species, with records from a remarkable 189 x 10K squares. Moths have been seen in every month of the year. Numbers vary a lot from year to year. It is often seen flying by day, even bigger numbers at dusk, and it readily visits light traps. After arrival, several broods can be produced, and there is now good evidence that moths fly back south in the autumn to find a warmer climate. Over-wintering as an adult in the UK is rare. Counts at times can be huge. The largest being an estimated 25,000 at Spurn on 15/8/1996. Counts of over 1000 at light have been recorded at Spurn. The small f. gammina is thought to be due to poor larval growth and is usually a primary migrant.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: A ubiquitous migrant, recorded from all five vice-counties. It often becomes common in the autumn when home-bred specimens mix with further migrants.

Recorded in 190 (95%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1846. Last Recorded in 2024. Additional Stats

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