Yorkshire Status: Uncommon and local resident.

This species was not discovered in Britain until 1971 though it might have been lurking undetected before then. It was first found in Yorkshire in 1975. Looking at the distribution map you could be forgiven for thinking that it was not uncommon, as records span a large proportion of the county. In reality, it is rather scarce and we receive only a handful of records each year. Some of this could be due to a failure to recognise it, as it can look very like Green Pug at times. Unlike many of the pictures you will see, it rarely looks green, and fades rapidly to a brownish colour. A salmon-pink band at the base of the abdomen is a good feature, and the shape of the outer cross band is important - it is smoother and less "kinky" where it meets the costa. It seems particularly uncommon in western areas - perhaps there is less blackthorn in these parts. Searching blackthorn blossom in March and April is a good way to find the larva.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: This species was only recently discovered in Britain (Skinner, 1984), although it may have been an unnoticed resident for some time, being difficult to distinguish from C. rectangulata (Linnaeus). In Yorkshire it was first found by P. Q. Winter in 1975 and there have been several records since. It is probably still overlooked as an adult, being most easily identified in the larval stage.

	Retained Specimen / Photograph will be Required.

Recorded in 46 (23%) of 200 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1964.
Last Recorded in 2023.
Additional Stats