Species Account

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Distribution

 
 

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Common

Local Status: Abundant and widespread resident.

Local Record: Grade 1   See here for explanation

Flight time: One generation, Jun-Nov.

Forewing: 21-26mm.

Foodplant: Herbaceous plants and grasses.

Regional breakdown:

 VC61VC62VC63VC64VC65
Year first recorded19261930184618861940
Year last recorded20142014201420142014
Number of records2193876589459122152127
Number of individuals38581214988311381428712069039
Unique positions301351425494107
Unique locations277319411485104
Adult records2179875259206117182099
Immature records4761724

For the county, we have a total of 53397 records from 1596 sites. First recorded in 1846.
 

Photos

73.342 Large Yellow Underwing 06
© Nick Lawman
73.342 Large Yellow Underwing 03
© Andy Nunn
73.342 Large Yellow Underwing 05
© Nick Lawman
73.342 Large Yellow Underwing 04
© Nick Lawman
73.342 Large Yellow Underwing 02
© Andy Nunn
73.342 Large Yellow Underwing 01
© Charles Fletcher, 18 May 2005

Species Account

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Undoubtedly the most numerous and widespread species in the list so far!' (PQW). This is one of the commonest moths in August, often abundant throughout all five vice-counties and often a nuisance in light traps. For example, on 16.8.1987, 1,852 moths of this species were trapped at MV light in one evening! (BRS) and W. Reid estimated a catch exceeding 3,500 individuals on several unusually productive nights in Sheffield in 1955 (Reid, 1955). This species exhibits a very wide range of colour forms but dark varieties are not particularly common.

2012 (CHF): Still the commonest species, widespread across the county in big numbers. Numbers in the autumn may be swollen by migration.
 

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