Orchard Ermine - Yponomeuta padella
Wingspan between 19 and 22 mm. This is one of four Ermine moth species, namely Orchard Ermine (Yponomeuta padella), Apple Ermine (Yponomeuta malinellus), Spindle Ermine (Yponomeuta cagnagella) and Willow Ermine (Yponomeuta rorrella) which should now be recorded as Yponomeuta agg., unless it is made clear that they were recorded as an occupied larval web or
See above.
Adult 
Areas where the larval foodplants (Blackthorn, Hawthorn and Cherry) are found.
It flies in July and August and is attracted to light.
The larvae feed on Blackthorn, Hawthorn and Cherry. Like its relatives, the larvae live gregariously in a silken web.
Although it appears to be fairly common in Britain, the true status my be clouded due to difficulty of identification.
Possibly less common in our area than other members of this species group.
Mark Skevington
Ketton Quarry
24 May 2025
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
Enter a town or village to see local records
MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020
UK Map
Species profile
- Common names
- Orchard Ermine
- Species group:
- insect - moth
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Lepidoptera
- Family:
- Yponomeutidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 1
- First record:
- 24/05/2025 (Skevington, Mark)
- Last record:
- 24/05/2025 (Skevington, Mark)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.
In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.