ABH: 29.001
BF: 663
Family: Chimabachidae
Taxon: Diurnea fagella
Authority: ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Vernacular: Early Reveller
Account: Common in oak woodland, birch woodland, scrub and hedgerows throughout much of the British Isles, but not in the Highlands or Islands of Scotland Males are frequent at light in spring, and are often encountered during the day resting on oak trunks. The female is flightless with greatly reduced wings (brachypterous) and is not so often seen. The species is very variable, ranging from pale to dark grey, sometimes almost black, and commonly features as an ID request on moth forums, being confused as a pyralid. Larva polyphagous on many deciduous trees and shrubs, including Oak, Beech, Hornbeam, Birch, Willow, Poplar, Hazel, Acer, Prunus and Rubus, usually feeding between leaves spun together with silk, over-wintering as a pupa.
Wingspan: male 26 — 30 mm; female 15 — 20 mm
Surrey Flight Period: 24 Feb (2007) — 26 Apr (1986)
Foodplant: Betula pendula (Silver Birch), Fagus sylvatica (Beech), Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak), Quercus robur (Pedunculate Oak), Salix sp. (a sallow).
Status: Common
UK BAP:
WCA:
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Verification Grade: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/diurnea-fagella/
* Based on adult records only.
Records: 371
Individuals: 448
Earliest Year: 1931
Latest Year: 2025