– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– Rare / Uncommon / Scarce
– care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required. ID pointers: Generally a pale greyish brown or pale grey, with a large darker brown or grey-brown “furry” head. Several narrow and wavy cross bands across central area of forewing. Sometimes the cross-bands can have contrastingly darker centres. Fairly distinctive.
Distribution: Last recorded 2023. A central and Southern European species. Adult males occasionally turning up in August as vagrants. A probable new species for Derbyshire. Paul Buxton trapped an adult (probable female) on19th August 2021 followed by another more pristine adult (probable male) on 25th August 2021. Very difficult to say whether these specimens are migrants or adventives, via imported flowers, salads, vegetables. The species is a pest on oak, causing severe defoliation and creating a health hazard. The minute hairs of the moth and caterpillars can cause severe prickling or stinging symptoms. A further specimen trapped at Findern on 12th August 2022. An influx of caterpillars in Long Eaton during July 2023 was dealt with by the authorities.
This species is covered by UK Plant Health legislation under which it is illegal to knowingly keep, store or sell it.
This species is covered by UK Plant Health legislation under which it is illegal to knowingly keep, store or sell it.
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Forewing: 16-17mm (f), 14-16mm (m)
Last Recorded By – Not Recorded
Last Recorded General Area – Not Recorded
Selected Images: Long Eaton, Derbyshire – Images by Paul Buxton©
Image Gallery
No gallery images found for this moth.
Distribution Map for Thaumetopoea processionea
Found 2 records
↳ 0 from After 2025
↳ 2 from 2020 - 2024
↳ 0 from Before 2020
↳ 0 from After 2025
↳ 2 from 2020 - 2024
↳ 0 from Before 2020
If the Map Layers function fails, just refresh the page and it should be OK after. Use the +- zoom on the top left, or on a tablet, use two fingers to zoom. Remember, the last layer you ticked is the one which displays the popup information - they sit on top of each other - de-select then re-select, to see the popup values.
Bedrock Geology ** indirectly affects moth distribution by influencing the type of habitat and food plants available in an area. In turn, this may affect the types of moths that can thrive, or where they can most likely be found.
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NBN Atlas UK Distribution - This moth may be an aggregate and as such no specific records of distribution exist.
Monthly Records By Year:
Thaumetopoea processionea
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year: Thaumetopoea processionea
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Thaumetopoea processionea
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
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Recordings By Year: Thaumetopoea processionea
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Thaumetopoea processionea
AGR: 0% | Total % Change: 0%
Thaumetopoea processionea
Insufficient records/data for an AGR analysis
Years Analysed: 2000 – 2025
Thaumetopoea processionea
Insufficient records/data for a CUSUM analysis
Years Analysed: 2000 – 2025
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Thaumetopoea processionea
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Thaumetopoea processionea
Thaumetopoea processionea
( data includes Adult Stage only )
Flight Period chart – the grey hatched area above, which can cross one or more months, pictorially represents the best guess we have for this moth's flight periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen in flight, from site observation records received between 2020-2025.
Records Behind the Map and Charts - Thaumetopoea processionea – 2 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garden | SK43T | 10/08/2022 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Sandiacre | SK43T | 10/08/2022 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |