Photo © Steve Nash

Small Eggar

Eriogaster lanestris

Checklist Number
66.005 [B&F: 1633]

Verification
Record will be accepted (subject to date and location checks)

Classification

Family:Lasiocampidae
Subfamily:Lasiocampinae
Genus:Eriogaster
Species:lanestris
Authority:(Linnaeus, 1758)

Nationally scarce (Nb) on heathland, scrub and downland, discontinuously throughout England. In Hampshire formerly widespread, but there have been no recent records in vice-counties 11 or 12, although It does hang on at Martin Down, politically part of the county but actually in vice-county 8. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight since 1960. Wingspan male 34-40 mm, female 44-48 mm. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on Hawthorn and Blackthorn, living gregariously within a silken web, and over-wintering as a pupa; the species' decline has been attributed to severe trimming of hedges during the larval season (MBGBI Vol 7 part 2).

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)