Species Details

ABH: 66.003

BF: 1634

Family: Lasiocampidae

Subfamily: Malacosomatinae

Taxon: Malacosoma neustria

Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular: Lackey

Account: Common on heaths, gardens and open woodland in the southern half of England, Wales and Ireland, a species of conservation concern under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan Similar to Ground Lackey M. castrensis, which see for differences. Larva feeds on various broad-leaved trees and shrubs, including Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Plum, Apple and Cherry, living gregariously within a silken web, 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: male 32 — 36 mm; female 40 — 44 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 6 May (2025) — 16 Aug (1991)

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

Foodplant: Acer sp. (a maple), Crataegus sp., Populus sp. (a poplar), Prunus sp., Quercus sp. (an oak), Ulmus sp. (an elm).

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

Status: Vulnerable (VU)

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/malacosoma-neustria/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 418

Individuals: 110

Earliest Year: 1893

Latest Year: 2025

« Previous Random 🎲 Next »