71.001 BF2022  –  Notodontidae –  Thaumetopeinae – Thaumetopoea processionea – Oak Processionary – (Linnaeus, 1758) Adult Macro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Can be confused with other species       PDF Icon – click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines

Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce   
Taxonomy:   Macro   >>  Notodontidae  >> Thaumetopeinae
ID Difficulty:  amber  – 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.
Flight Period: July /  August /  September /  –  On the wing late July – mid September Moth Activity: Nocturnal  Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Paul Buxton  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 21 July 2025 by WS ***
Wingspan: 25-35mm
Forewing: 16-17mm (f), 14-16mm (m)
Food Plant: Oaks.
Last Recorded By – Not Recorded
Last Recorded General Area – Not Recorded

IMAGES BELOW:  Long Eaton, Derbyshire – Images by Paul Buxton©

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Distribution Map for Thaumetopoea processionea

Found 2 records
    ↳ 0 from After 2025
    ↳ 2 from 2020 - 2024
    ↳ 0 from Before 2020

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******* Choose ONLY one at a time, of either Monad, Tetrad or Hectad Distribution - each has it's own set of data. Also, the distribution maps cover ALL recorded data. *******

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.

Land-cover * shows the variety of land-cover within the VC57 area, based on the CORINE (Coordination of Information on the Environment) forty-four thematic classes of land-cover. This will show, to a greater or lesser degree, the number and variety of moths found in different land-cover types. The UK continues to operate within the Copernicus programme, with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) providing Corine Land Cover (CLC) datasets for the UK and its territories.


NBN Atlas UK Distribution for – Thaumetopoea processionea

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Note – the NBN Atlas datasets are listed in the map below and vary in their currency (uptodateness) – however, the map does give a general indication of the moth's distribution across the UK.

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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
( 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

TaxonSite NameTetradYearDateCountStageSource
Thaumetopoea processioneaGardenSK43T202210/08/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Thaumetopoea processioneaSandiacreSK43T202210/08/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract

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