Yorkshire Status: Local resident.

There are three species of Ochsenheimeria and all occur in Yorkshire. They are not always easy to tell apart. They are all species of rough grassland and are usually recorded flying in the sunshine in the middle of the day. A good quality photograph is usually needed and we need to be able to see the antennae. If in doubt, dissection might be the best option.

O. taurella. The middle section of the antennae is covered in long shaggy scales, more than three times the width of the shaft. The forewing underside has dark-tipped terminal cilia. The erect scales on the forewing give it a "shaggy" appearance.
O. urella. Male antennae are thickened at the base and are tapering. Female antennae have long shaggy scales in the middle of the antennae, but these are shorter than in taurella - less than three times the width of the shaft. The forewing has some raised scales, but not as many as taurella so it looks much smoother.
O. vacculella. The antennae are not covered in shaggy scales in either sex, and are not thickened at the base. The forewing does not have raised scales and has a fairly dark and mottled appearance.

O. taurella is the commonest of the genus. Porritt was aware of several sites, and listed it from Huddersfield, Scarborough, York and Doncaster. It has been recorded several time since then, but records are somewhat few and far between, though we do have records from all five vice-counties. All records have been of moths seen by day, and none at light.

	Retained Specimen / Photograph will be Required.

Recorded in 12 (6%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1859. Last Recorded in 2024. Additional Stats

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