Apple Ermine - Yponomeuta malinellus

This is one of four Ermine moth species, namely Orchard Ermine (Yponomeuta padella), Apple Ermine (Yponomeuta malinellus), Spindle Ermine (Yponomeuta cagnagella) and Willow Ermine (Yponomeuta rorrella) which should now be recorded as Yponomeuta agg., unless it is made clear that they were recorded as an occupied larval web or reared from the relevant larval foodplant.

Apple orchards.

It flies in July and August and is attracted to light.

Larva feeds on Apple, living gregariously within a silken web.

Widespread in England with a few records in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. It is less common than previously and most often found in the south. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

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