Species Details

ABH: 72.076

BF: 2451

Family: Erebidae

Subfamily: Erebinae

Taxon: Catocala fraxini

Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular: Clifden Nonpareil

Account: Unmistakable! Until the early 2000's, a rare immigrant, although previously temporarily established in Kent and the Norfolk Broads. Has made a dramatic comeback; however, there is conjecture as to whether this is due to recolonisation by wild stock or an unofficial release in the Somerset/Wiltshire area as recolonisation. Larva feeds on Aspen.

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: male 84 — 100 mm; female 98 — 112 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 22 Jun (2022) — 19 Oct (2023)

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

Foodplant: Populus sp. (a poplar), Populus tremula (Aspen).

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/catocala-fraxini/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 100

Individuals: 84

Earliest Year: 1852

Latest Year: 2025

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