The Sycamore - Acronicta aceris

Alternative names
Sycamore Moth
Description

Wingspan 35-45 mm. Like several other Acronicta species, the ground colour varies from pale grey to dark sooty-grey.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Parks, gardens, woodland and scrub.

When to see it

June and July

Life History

The brightly-coloured caterpillar is covered with yellow and orange hairs and has a row of black-edged white blotches along the back. It feeds on Horse-chestnut as well as Sycamore and Field Maple.

UK Status

The species is distributed mainly in the south-eastern counties of England, with scattered records elsewhere. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.

VC55 Status

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

Reference
73.039 BF2279

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

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

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Sycamore
Species group:
Moths
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Noctuidae
Records on NatureSpot:
116
First record:
05/07/2003 (Skevington, Mark)
Last record:
13/09/2024 (Smith, Peter)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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