Oak Beauty - Biston strataria

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Description

Wingspan 40-50 mm. A large-bodied, attractive species with alternate bands of chestnut and white, speckled with black.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Frequents deciduous woodland and suburban habitats.

When to see it

It flies in March and April.

Life History

The caterpillars feed on a number of deciduous trees; the species is not restricted to Oak.

UK Status

Reasonably common in England and Wales, scarcer in Scotland and Ireland.

VC55 Status

Fairly frequent but not common in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = B (scarce resident or restricted distribution or regular migrant).

Reference
70.251 BF1930
  • Mark Skevington
    Pickworth Great Wood
    28 February 2009
  • sue
    Measham, former Minorca Colliery, pond N of Brook
    28 May 2025
  • Rob Lee
    Beacon Hill Country Park
    Woodhouse Eaves
    21 June 2023
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    02 April 2014
  • David Nicholls
    Ratby garden
    30 March 2012
  • Mark Skevington
    Whetstone Garden
    27 February 2015

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Oak Beauty
Species group:
insect - moth
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Geometridae
Records on NatureSpot:
169
First record:
17/03/2005 (Skevington, Mark)
Last record:
13/04/2026 (Haddon, John)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    06 April 2013
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    20 March 2016
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    20 March 2012
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    13 March 2011
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    24 February 2011
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    10 March 2012
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    23 March 2012
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    12 April 2013
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    17 March 2015
  • Nigel Judson
    Grace Dieu
    12 March 2016
    Oak Beauty, Grace Dieu
  • sue
    Measham, former Minorca Colliery, pond N of Brook
    28 May 2025