General comments:
Widespread resident.

The Least Black Arches was for a long time considered a rarity and was first recorded in our area as recently as 1934. Occasional examples were recorded over the next 50 years, but from the mid-1980s numbers increased in parallel with an apparent extension of affected area. Today it is more or less expected in most sites.

Of some interest is the grey aberration columbina Image, which was said to be confined to Epping Forest in Essex. This certainly is no longer the case and grey forms are frequently caught at sites elsewhere. Of course, prior to the 1980s, moth recording was not widely undertaken: Collectors made repeat visits to specific sites for specific targets. Perhaps columbina was only found at Epping because that is the only place where people looked for the moth? Then again,columbina itself may have increased in frequency?

Recorded in 34 (83%) of 41 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1934. Last Recorded in 2024. Additional Stats

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