Species Details

ABH: 70.075

BF: 1778

Family: Geometridae

Subfamily: Larentiinae

Taxon: Hydriomena impluviata

Authority: ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Vernacular: May Highflyer

Account: Common in damp woodland, marshes, river-banks and other damp areas throughout the British Isles. The main confusion species is Ruddy Highflyer H. ruberata, which is often reddish-brown and has a more westerly and northerly distribution, but grey forms of Ruddy Highflyer are difficult to distinguish from May Highflier. Larva feeds on Alder, over-wintering as a pupa.

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: 30 — 34 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 28 Apr (2007) — 13 Jul (2015)

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

Foodplant: Alnus glutinosa (Alder).

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/hydriomena-impluviata/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 288

Individuals: 96

Earliest Year: 1864

Latest Year: 2025

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