Small Eggar - Eriogaster lanestris

Wingspan 30 to 40 mm.

Please provide a good, close-up photograph to support your record.

Hedgerows where Hawthorn or Blackthorn are present.

The adults fly in February and March, but are seldom seen.

Larvae live gregariously in silken webs on the foodplants Hawthorn or Blackthorn. Larval records are perhaps more likely than adults to light; all records of larval webs are welcomed, but will be marked as sensitive and not be mapped to original grid ref.

Formerly quite common, this is now a scarce and local species. It is now restricted to a few scattered colonies in England and Ireland, and a few localities in Wales. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.

In the most recent VC55 Macro Moth Checklist this species was classed as scarce / uncommon/ scarce migrant, or less frequent in garden settings. Good photo likely to be requested. Most VC55 records are from the larval stage.