Species Details

ABH: 70.235

BF: 1914

Family: Geometridae

Subfamily: Ennominae

Taxon: Ennomos fuscantaria

Authority: (Haworth, 1809)

Vernacular: Dusky Thorn

Account: Common in woodland, hedgerows and gardens throughout much of England, a species of conservation concern under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan The most likely confusion species is August Thorn E. quercinaria, which also often has discal third of forewing darker, but in Dusky Thorn the two median fasciae converge at the dorsum more noticeable than they do in August Thorn, and the postmedian fascia is smoother and less kinked towards the costa in Dusky Thorn. Larva feeds on Ash, over-wintering as an egg.

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: 38 — 42 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 1 Jul (2021) — 30 Oct (1992)

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

Foodplant: Fraxinus sp.

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Near Threatened (NT)

UK BAP: BAP(R)

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/ennomos-fuscantaria/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 563

Individuals: 156

Earliest Year: 1864

Latest Year: 2025

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