Oak Eggar / Northern Eggar

The Northern Eggar is the northern form of the Oak Eggar. It is larger and the female is browner than the Oak Eggar. Males fly by day in a zig-zag fashion, particularly in afternoon sunshine.  Females fly from early dusk.

Size and Family

• Family – Eggars (Lasiocampids)
• Large Sized 

Conservation status

• UK BAP: Not listed
• Common

Particular Caterpillar Food Plants

Heathers and Bilberry on heaths and moors but also feeds on Bramble, Blackthorn, sallows, hawthorns, Hazel, Sea-buckthorn and other woody plants.

Distribution

• Countries – England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland
• Widespread and common throughout most of the British Isles and in Ireland.  The Northern Eggar occurs in nothern England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.  The Oak Eggar is found in southern and eastern England, East Anglia, the south Midlands and the Cheshire and Lancashire coasts. Some examples from south-west England resemble the Northern Eggar.

Habitat