Morley's Final Catalogue: This restless animal, said to be the sole one endowed with perpetual motion, is normally abundant everywhere (cf. Trans. ii, 294) though sometimes quite rare. Occasionally on the wing as late as 10 October at Monks Soham; often at Aster flowers in Easton and Southwold salt-marshes.

Recent Suffolk Status: A very common immigrant, which arrives in numbers most years and breeds in the county. Cannot currently survive the winter.

Life history: Multi-brooded. Has been seen in every month of the year as an adult.
Frequently disturbed in the daytime, flying a short distance before resting again. Also feeds at flowers in the daytime in hot weather. Seen in numbers at dusk feeding at flowers, but seems to ignore light traps running close by. Does come to light, sometimes in numbers, especially at coastal sites during migration. Larvar regularly found in the county feeding on a wide range of plants. In some years there are huge numbers of caterpillars and they can be an agricultural pest.

Identification: Can vary in colour, with pale forms possibly originating from hot climates. The small form gammina is seen most years in small numbers. The Y mark can also vary and can be split.
Plain golden Y is much redder in colour and normally has the Y mark split. Ni moth, a rare immigrant to Suffolk, is smaller, has the Y mark split, forming and n and a spot and a pale spot in the trailing corner of the wing.

Habitat: A wide variety of habitats.

Recorded in 57 (98%) of 58 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1905. Last Recorded in 2024. Additional Stats

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