Yorkshire Status: Rare and very local resident.

This rather attractive and elusive species occurs in damp woodland. The larval foodplants have not been conclusively identified yet. Porritt in 1883 was aware of a record from Scarborough" (ie "the Scarborough district") but regarded it as unconfirmed until there was further evidence. It is likely that this was correct but it was not first formally found in the county until the 1960s when it was found in the Dib Scar area and then in the east of VC62 in 1980. Since then it has been found in small numbers at many sites in VC62, from coastal areas and as far west as Ashberry Pastures. It was refound at Grass Wood/Dib Scar when 15 came to light on 19/7/2011, still the biggest count ever seen in the county. It has been seen in that area several time since. Our two populations are quite isolated. Nationally this is a rare moth so we must look after it. The nearest sites are in the Morecambe Bay area and in Dovedale in Derbyshire. It is not impossible that we have other undiscovered populations in the county.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: The only Yorkshire locality for this species is below Dib Scar near Grassington (VC64). Its presence at this site was last confirmed on 11 August 1983 (SMJ, MRB).

	Retained Specimen / Photograph will be Required.

Recorded in 12 (6%) of 200 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1883.
Last Recorded in 2023.
Additional Stats