Yorkshire Status: Local resident.

In 1907 Porritt described Dark Brocade as "common in woods and on moorlands in the south-west and less commonly in other parts". It is still fairly common in upland districts in the west and north-east of the county, but is generally thought of as a moorland rather than a woodland species, most at home on heather moorland and upland grassland. Most of our largest counts come from the western half of VC64 where it can be locally abundant, eg 157 at Scar House on 4/6/2004. It is reported widely in small numbers from lowland areas and although many of these may be genuine records, it can be mistaken for other species, in particular Dusky Brocade and Cabbage, so care should be taken with moths seen away from typical habitat. The wavy white edging to the outer edge of the reniform stigma is usually fairly distinctive. Numbers fluctuate, but so does trapping in the uplands so the population is probably stable. Nationally it has been lost from many of its old haunts in the south-east of England where it may be affected by climatic change.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Often frequent on moors. Less common in the valleys and other lowland areas of all five vice-counties.

	Retained Specimen / Photograph will be Required.

Recorded in 123 (62%) of 200 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1880.
Last Recorded in 2024.
Additional Stats