Species Details

ABH: 70.205

BF: 1884

Family: Geometridae

Subfamily: Ennominae

Taxon: Abraxas grossulariata

Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular: Magpie Moth

Account: Common on moorland, in gardens and allotments throughout much of the British Isles Unmistakable. Larva feeds on Heather, Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Hazel, Black Currant, Red Currant, Gooseberry and Spindle.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 42 — 48 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 1 Jun (1981) — 18 Sep (1988)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Ribes sp.

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Least Concern (LC)

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/abraxas-grossulariata/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 145

Individuals: 43

Earliest Year: 1885

Latest Year: 2023

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