The males have triangular grey-brown forewings with dark-edged jagged crossbands which are distinctively held overlapping at rest. The females are completely wingless with a barrel-shaped body and a tuft of hairs on the end of the abdomen. The adult males fly after dark and are attracted to light in March and April.

The light green caterpillars can be found from late April to June overwintering as pupae in a fragile cocoon under the ground.

Size and Family

  • Family – Alsophilinae
  • Medium Sized
  • Wingspan Range – 32-38mm

Conservation status

  • UK BAP: Not listed
  • Common

Caterpillar Food Plants

Oaks, Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris), willows, Field Maple (Acer campestre), birches and other broadleaved trees and shrubs

Habitat

Open woodland and also parks and gardens where the foodplants grow

Distribution

  • Countries – England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland
  • Common and well distributed throughout most of mainland Britain. Found locally in Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
March Moth - Iain Leach

March Moth

March Moth - Iain Leach

March Moth

March Moth - Iain Leach

March Moth

March Moth - Peter Maton

March Moth

March Moth - Peter Maton

March Moth

March Moth - Peter Maton

March Moth

March Moth - Dave Shenton

March Moth

March Moth - Koen Thonissen

March Moth

March Moth - Dave Shenton

March Moth

March Moth - Dave Shenton

March Moth

March Moth - Iain Leach

March Moth

March Moth

March Moth