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Wood Tiger
Parasemia plantaginis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Erebidae: Arctiinae
2056 / 72.025
Photo © Derek Parkinson,  SE2044: Otley Chevin, VC64

Similar Yorkshire Species: None
Forewing: 17-20mm
Flight: May - July
Foodplant:   Herbaceous plants and heathers
Red List: Least Concern (LC)
GB Status: Common
Former Status: Local
Verification Grade:  Adult: 3

Yorkshire Status: Local resident.

Wood Tiger must have been a more common moth in the past. In 1907 Porritt commmented "occurs in more or less plenty on dry heaths in all part of the county." I don't think we could say that now. Looking at the national distribution map, it seems to have totally disappeared from many of its old haunts in the south and east of England though it may be doing better on the higher ground. It certainly seems to have deserted our lowland heaths, last being seen at Hatfield Moor in 1962, and Skipwith Common in 1996. Records from other areas however are more encouraging and in general we have had more records since 2000. In the west of the county it is doing well in Swaledale, upper Wharfedale and in the Ingleborough area. It still turns up regularly in the east of VC62, and in VC61 it is regular at Wharram Quarry where a record count of 20 was seen by day on 25/6/2015. It has a habit of turning up in odd places at times. In the uplands the larvae are most commonly reported on heather, though other food plants seem to be used quite frequently.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: This species seems to have declined in the past few years. There are still occasional reports from chalk grassland, moorland and mosses in all five vice-counties.

Retained Specimen / Photograph will be Required.

Recorded in 81 (41%) of 200 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1858.
Last Recorded in 2023.
Additional Stats

Latest 5 Records
Date#VC10k Area
24/06/2023265SE09 - Redmire / Grinton
21/06/2023164SD96 - Malham / Threshfield
21/06/2023163SK28 - Hathersage
19/06/2023164SD77 - Ingleborough
13/06/2023164SD77 - Ingleborough
Further info: Parasemia plantaginis
 
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