Orange upperwing moth  (Jodia croceago)

Classified as Endangered in the UK.

This rare moth has pale buff underwings and, as its name suggests, orange forewings, delicately marked with darker lines and dots. It could easily be confused with the much commoner Orange Sallow Xanthia citrago, especially as both are attracted to sugared lures.

The Orange Upperwing has declined in numbers drastically in recent years, having been recorded from central, southern and south-western England, with occasional records from Wales. However, by 1980 it had become restricted to Cornwall, Devon, Sussex, Surrey, Shropshire and South Wales. Its last definite record was in 1984, from Sussex, although an unconfirmed record was reported from Hampshire. The Orange Upperwing is scarce but widely distributed in Europe and North Africa.

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

The moth is an open woodland or woodland-edge species, particularly associated with small or coppiced trees that retain their leaves over winter, as the adult moths overwinter within withered leaves left on the tree.

The eggs are laid on pedunculate oak and sessile oak (Quercus robur and Q. petraea), both of which are abundant throughout Britain.

It is thought that a decline in the practice of coppicing woodland may have led to the disappearance of the orange upperwing moth, together with unsympathetic path and ride management

The Orange Upperwing moth is listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plans (UK BAP), and included in English Nature's Species Recovery Programme. As with all rare or endangered species, it is important to conduct surveys to determine the status of this moth and, having evaluated the results, it may be appropriate to undertake reintroductions into suitably restored habitats on a range of former sites across southern and south-western England and in Wales. It is also vital that all sites where re-establishment is proposed are appropriately managed and this type of woodland habitat increased through the uptake of woodland grants.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan for this species is available at UK BAP.