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Spring Usher
Agriopis leucophaearia ([Denis & Schifferm?ller], 1775)
Geometridae: Ennominae
1932 / 70.253
Photo © Jill Warwick, Feb 2011,  SE328717: Sharow Grange

Dotted Border
Agriopis marginaria
Forewing: 14-17mm
Flight: January - March
Foodplant:   Oaks
Red List: Least Concern (LC)
GB Status: Common
Verification Grade:  Adult: 1

Yorkshire Status: Fairly common resident.

The only reason that Spring Usher is not labelled common and widespread is because of the flight time. The majority of records are from mid-January to mid-February - a time when most moth trappers have not yet resumed activitity after the winter break. It is a moth of oak woodland where it can be surprisingly common, but as few people trap in this habitat in the winter, most of our records are from gardens. In good habitat, counts can be well into double figures for example 56 at Austerfield on 8/2/2022. The wingless female is less often encountered but can be found at the base of oak trees in the early morning. Males are extremely variable in appearance.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Appears rather local in Yorkshire, but may well be under-recorded because few people are out trapping in oak woodland so early in the season.

Recorded in 90 (45%) of 200 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1846.
Last Recorded in 2024.
Additional Stats

Latest 5 Records
Date#VC10k Area
18/02/2024264SE27 - Kirkby Malzeard
24/01/2024165SE37 - Ripon
31/12/2023164SE24 - Bramhope / Otley
21/02/2023162SE65 - York (E)
20/02/2023162SE98 - Wykeham
Further info: Agriopis leucophaearia
 
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