Photo © Steve Nash
Small Eggar
Eriogaster lanestris
Checklist Number66.005 [B&F: 1633]
Verification
Record will be accepted (subject to date and location checks)
Classification
| Family: | Lasiocampidae |
| Subfamily: | Lasiocampinae |
| Genus: | Eriogaster |
| Species: | lanestris |
| Authority: | (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Nationally scarce (Nb) on heathland, scrub and downland, discontinuously throughout England. In Hampshire formerly widespread, but there have been no recent records in vice-counties 11 or 12, although It does hang on at Martin Down, politically part of the county but actually in vice-county 8. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight since 1960. Wingspan male 34-40 mm, female 44-48 mm. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on Hawthorn and Blackthorn, living gregariously within a silken web, and over-wintering as a pupa; the species' decline has been attributed to severe trimming of hedges during the larval season (MBGBI Vol 7 part 2).
The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:
No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Larval | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Records by week (adult)
Records by week (larval)
