General comments:
Widespread resident.

This moth was first recorded in Britain on the Isle of Wight in 1951, under the name of Lithophane lapidea. However, in 1957 it was realised that lapidea comprised two species and leautieri was 'split' from it. The true lapidea is found in south-east Europe and the two species are thought to overlap only in the region of the French-Italian border. The first Hertfordshire record was in 1972; the first for Middlesex in 1986. It has spread to become a widespread and common species, with the larvae adapting to feeding on cupressaceous trees - most especially Chamaecyparis leylandii.

Recorded in 32 (78%) of 41 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1960. Last Recorded in 2023. Additional Stats

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