Status
Common.
Widespread in open woodland, hedgerows, orchards, gardens and larch plantations.
Please note Spilonota laricana was formerly thought a rather dark but distinctive form of Spilonota ocellana but is now a distinct species, separated with care by more extensive grey suffusion over half the wing and more extensive black dashes.
However, a dark form of S. ocellana also occurs, where the paler areas of the wing are all darkened. S. laricana retains the pale dorsal central area. Spilonota ocellana also has a broader forewing.
A black well developed triangular pre-tornal mark also separates this species from the similar Gypsonoma dealbana.
Commonly known as the Bud Moth because of the damage the larvae cause to the fruit buds of orchard trees in the spring.Recorded in 64 (86%) of 74 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1874.
Last Recorded in 2023. |