Photo © Simon Ingram

Brown-tail

Euproctis chrysorrhoea

Checklist Number
72.012 [B&F: 2029]

Verification
Record will normally be accepted but photo evidence may be required - check with CMR if not sure of identity

Classification

Family:Erebidae
Subfamily:Lymantriinae
Genus:Euproctis
Species:chrysorrhoea
Authority:(Linnaeus, 1758)

Local in scrub, hedgerows, parks and gardens, along the coasts on England from Yorkshire to the Isles of Scilly. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight formerly confined to a few coastal localities, notably Hayling Island, this species has recently and suddenly greatly increased its range. Larval nests are now plentiful in winter along the coast, mainly on hawthorn, bramble and blackthorn, and it is extending its range inland. Wingspan male 36-42 mm, female 39-41 mm. Larva feeds on Bramble, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Dog-rose and Sallow, living gregariously within a silken web, causing sufficient damage to be a serious pest in some areas. The larval hairs are extremely irritating, causing rashes on exposed parts of the skin.

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)