Photo © Mike Wall
Oak Processionary
Thaumetopoea processionea
Checklist Number71.001 [B&F: 2022]
Verification
Record will require further evidence, at least a good photograph, unless CMR is aware recorder has confidence in identification
Classification
| Family: | Notodontidae |
| Subfamily: | Thaumetopoeinae |
| Genus: | Thaumetopoea |
| Species: | processionea |
| Authority: | (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Rare immigrant from mainland Europe, appearing in southern England. It is expanding its range on the continent and is resident on the Channel Islands, and likely to be reported with increased frequency. While the Moths of Hampshire and Isle of Wight (Goater & Norriss, 2001) states "15 or so records of this species (all males), since the first in 1983" this account must be erroneous as the relevant atlas map shows no dots for the county and there are no reports on the county database from mainland Hampshire before two on consecutive days in mid-2004. On the Isle of Wight, reported for the first time in September 1998. The year 2020 saw a considerable increase in numbers and expansion of range, particularly into the north-east of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, with at least 26 individuals being reported. Wingspan male 31-35 mm, female 36-41 mm. Similar to Pine Processionary T. pityocampa, but has smaller and weaker comma-shaped marking in the centre of the forewing. Larva feeds on Sessile Oak, Pedunculate Oak, Turkey Oak and Evergreen Oak, living gregariously within a silken web.
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)
VC10 Isle of Wight
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater (SZ38) | 01/09/1998 | one | B J Warne | Adult |
| Freshwater (SZ38) | 06/09/1998 | one | Steve Mansfield | Adult |
| Bonchurch (SZ57) | 19/08/2006 | one | Sam Knill-Jones | Adult |
| Bonchurch (SZ57) | 31/07/2020 | four | Sam Knill-Jones | Adult |
| Bonchurch (SZ57) | 01/08/2020 | one | James Halsey | Adult |
| Freshwater Cliffs (SZ38) | 09/08/2020 | one | James Halsey | Adult |
| Wheelers Bay (SZ57) | 09/08/2020 | one | James Halsey | Adult |
| Bonchurch (SZ57) | 10/08/2020 | one | Sue Davies | Adult |
VC11 South Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fareham (SU50) | 11/08/2004 | one | Andy Butler | Adult |
| Portchester (SU60) | 12/08/2004 | one | James Halsey | Adult |
| Romsey (SU32) | 25/07/2018 | one | Keith Wheeler | Adult |
| Northney, Hayling Island (SU70) | 31/07/2020 | - | Jon Stokes | Adult |
| Lovedean (SU61) | 31/07/2020 | one | Mike Baker | Adult |
| Southsea (SZ69) | 31/07/2020 | one | John W Phillips | Adult |
| Milford on Sea (SZ29) | 31/07/2020 | one | Alan Jafkins | Adult |
| Southampton (SU41) | 01/08/2020 | one | John R Langmaid | Adult |
| Portsmouth (SU60) | 01/08/2020 | one | Mary Macmillan | Adult |
| Southsea (SZ69) | 01/08/2020 | one | John Vetterlein | Adult |
| Northney, Hayling Island (SU70) | 02/08/2020 | - | Ian Thirlwell | Adult |
| Northney, Hayling Island (SU70) | 02/08/2020 | - | John R Langmaid | Adult |
| Catisfield (SU50) | 07/08/2020 | one | John W Phillips | Adult |
| Catisfield (SU50) | 07/08/2020 | one | John W Phillips | Adult |
| Lee (SU31) | 08/08/2020 | one | Amy L Robjohns | Adult |
| Lee (SU31) | 08/08/2020 | one | Amy L Robjohns | Adult |
| Romsey (SU32) | 02/09/2021 | one | Chris Thain | Adult |
| Romsey (SU32) | 06/09/2021 | two | Chris Thain | Adult |
| Chandlers Ford (SU42) | 06/09/2021 | one | Nigel R Jones | Adult |
| Romsey (SU32) | 19/08/2024 | one | Nigel R Jones | Adult |
| Romsey (SU32) | 26/08/2024 | one | Brian Elliott | Adult |
VC12 North Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farnborough (SU85) | 30/07/2020 | one | Nigel R Jones | Adult |
| Farnborough (SU85) | 31/07/2020 | one | Nigel R Jones | Adult |
| Farnborough (SU85) | 06/08/2020 | two | Keith Wills | Adult |
| Fleet (SU85) | 06/08/2020 | one | Keith Wills | Adult |
| Farnborough (SU85) | 08/08/2020 | one | Keith Wills | Adult |
| Yateley (SU86) | 08/08/2020 | one | Abigail Gibbs | Adult |
| Alton (SU73) | 09/08/2020 | one | Keith Wills | Adult |
| Farnborough (SU85) | 10/08/2020 | one | Josie Hewitt | Adult |
| Fleet (SU85) | 10/08/2020 | four | Belinda Ahmed | Adult |
| Whitehill (SU73) | 28/08/2021 | one | Keith Wills | Adult |
| Farnborough (SU85) | 28/08/2021 | one | Mike Halsey | Adult |
| Fleet (SU85) | 02/09/2021 | three | Andy Stocker | Adult |
| Farnborough (SU85) | 29/07/2022 | three | Mary Thompson | Adult |
| Whitehill (SU73) | 29/07/2022 | one | Mike Halsey | Adult |
| Basingstoke (SU65) | 29/07/2022 | one | Mary Thompson | Adult |
| Blackwater (SU85) | 30/07/2022 | two | Andy Stocker | Adult |
| Farnborough (SU85) | 30/07/2022 | one | Mike Wall | Adult |
| Farnham (SU84) | 30/07/2022 | - | Ben Dale | Adult |
| Whitehill (SU73) | 31/07/2022 | one | Keith Wills | Adult |
| Fleet Pond (SU85) | 01/08/2022 | six | via iNaturalist | Adult |
| Blackwater (SU85) | 01/08/2022 | one | Andy Stocker | Adult |
| Vernham Dean (SU35) | 22/05/2023 | one | Mike Halsey | Adult |
| Blackwater (SU85) | 21/08/2023 | one | Ben Dale | Adult |
| Farnborough (SU85) | 23/08/2023 | one | John Hale | Adult |
| Fleet Pond (SU85) | 23/08/2023 | one | Ben Dale | Adult |
| Vyne Lodge Farm, Cufaude (SU65) | 28/08/2023 | one | Keith Wills | Adult |
VC22 West Berkshire (Hants county)
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mortimer West End (SU66) | 15/08/2024 | one | Mike Halsey | Adult |
