Species Account

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Distribution

 
 

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Common

Local Status: Rare and very local resident. Under-recorded due vast majority

Local Record: Grade G   See here for explanation

Flight time: One generation, Sep-Nov.

Forewing: 15-20mm.

Foodplant: Beech, birches, elms, Alder, hazel.

Regional breakdown:

 VC61VC62VC63VC64VC65
Year first recorded20061989200919571977
Year last recorded20062013201120132014
Number of records14784036
Number of individuals13871118753
Unique positions163184
Unique locations163154
Adult records14784036
Immature records00000

For the county, we have a total of 132 records from 29 sites. First recorded in 1957.
 

Photos

70.108 Pale November Moth 01 gen.det.
© Terry Box, 28 Sep 2011

Species Account

See November Moth agg.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: There are very few confirmed records for this species but when genitalia preparations were made of similar 'November Moths' taken at Pannal, Harrogate (VC64), forty-three per cent were found to be this species. All these would have been counted as E. dilutata (Denis & Schiffermuller) without this special attention so it is likely that it is quite common in the County. Dunn and Parrack (1986) believe it is probably more western in distribution than the other Epirrita species in Northumberland and Durham but whether this will prove to be the case in Yorkshire is not clear as yet.

2012 (CHF): Separation of the four Epirrita species is fraught with difficulty. Pale November Moth is generally much less common than November Moth especially in gardens but can be locally common in mature broad-leaved woodland. The map shows records confirmed by dissection. Unless they have been dissected they are best logged as "November Moth agg". Page 94 of Waring, Townsend and Lewington (Field Guide to the Moths of GB and Ireland, second edition) shows how the males can be determined.
 

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