Yorkshire Status: Common and fairly widespread resident.

"Common everywhere" wrote Porritt in 1883, though he noted it was not as common as Heart and Dart. The same is true today. This is a common species across the county in lowland areas but is much less common in the uplands. Numbers are stable though they vary a lot from year to year. We usually receive about 500 records per year. There are two generations in Yorkshire, and the second is reinforced by immigration, which in some years seems to add considerably to the numbers trapped. The larvae of course do not just feed on turnips, but on a variety of root crops, and in parts of its range it can be a major pest. The forewing markings can vary a lot, some individuals being almost unmarked, and it can be easy to confuse it with other species, particularly Heart and Club. See this species for the main differences.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Widespread and frequent throughout vice-counties 61 to 64, but sparse in VC65. This moth is most common in or near lowland agricultural areas as would be expected of a potential crop pest. Our records do not suggest that it occurs in pest proportions in Yorkshire.

Recorded in 139 (70%) of 200 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1875.
Last Recorded in 2023.
Additional Stats