B&F: 1796

ABH: 70.108

Status: Resident.

Distribution and Abundance: Local.

Primary Habitat: Woodland.

Flight Period: Single brooded in October and November.

Localities: Yardley Chase, Salcey Forest, Geddington Chase and Fineshade.  

Observations: This species is easily confused with the November Moth (E. dilutata) and to a lesser extent the Autumnal Moth (E. autumnata). The identification difficulties have almost certainly led to it being under recorded. The three species are difficult to separate by wing markings alone and are more conclusively identified by the genitalia differences in the males. Notwithstanding this reference to literature can sometimes resolve the matter, particularly having regard to habitat and flight time. In my experience Pale November Moth is associated with beech woodland in the county but does not seem to occur in all such places. It was common under beech on 14 October 1995 in Hazelborough Forest but seemingly absent amongst much older beech in Boughton Park during the autumns of 2000, 2001 and 2002. Returns from the Rothamsted light trap running for seven years in the 1990’s show a total of 223 November Moths recorded of which some 30% were Pale November moths. Both species produced a very similar overall average flight period from the second week in October to the second week in November.

Confusion Species: November Moth, Autumnal Moth

First Record: Post 1960, Broom.