Yorkshire Status: Local resident.

Porritt labelled this species "not common" in 1883 and listed records from Balby and Beverley. It remained uncommon until the 1990s when it gradually began to expand its range, reaching both VC64 and 65 in 2004. It is now regular in wet areas in the south, east and centre of the county, and although numbers fluctuate from year to year, it seems to be doing well. This is a moth of fens and marshes, the larvae feeding on jointed rush, sharp-flowered rush and soft rush. Although usually seen in small numbers, it can be commoner in good habitat for example 42 at Leven Carrs on 11/7/2022. It is possible to confuse this moth with several other species, but the general shape and the grey contrasting thorax are good pointers.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Previously only recorded once since Porritt: from Spurn (VC61) in July 1953 (Michaelis, 1954). This moth has become well established at Skipwith Common since 1979 and has now also been recorded in VC62 and VC63.

Recorded in 64 (32%) of 200 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1883.
Last Recorded in 2023.
Additional Stats