Moths & butterflies known to feed on blackthorn (Prunus spinosa):
| Species | Status | Match |
|---|---|---|
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | any Prunus species |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | any Prunus species |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | this species |
| Black hairstreak Satyrium pruni |
Endangered | this species |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | any Prunus species |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | this species |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | any Prunus species |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | this species |
| Brown hairstreak Thecla betulae |
Vulnerable | this species |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | this species |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | this species |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | this species |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | this species |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | this species |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | this species |
| The magpie Abraxas grossulariata |
LC | this species |
| Alder moth Acronicta alni |
LC | this species |
| Grey dagger Acronicta psi |
LC | this species |
| Dark dagger Acronicta tridens |
LC | this species |
| Scarce umber Agriopis aurantiaria |
LC | this species |
| Dotted border Agriopis marginaria |
LC | this species |
| The brick Agrochola circellaris |
LC | this species |
| Mottled beauty Alcis repandata |
LC | this species |
| Sloe carpet Aleucis distinctata |
LC | this species |
| Green-brindled crescent Allophyes oxyacanthae |
LC | this species |
| March moth Alsophila aescularia |
LC | any Prunus species |
| Svensson's copper underwing Amphipyra berbera |
LC | this species |
| Copper underwing Amphipyra pyramidea |
LC | this species |
| Orange moth Angerona prunaria |
LC | this species |
| Twin-spotted quaker Anorthoa munda |
LC | any Prunus species |
| The streamer Anticlea derivata |
LC | this species |
| Deep-brown dart Aporophyla lutulenta |
LC | this species |
| Cream-spot tiger Arctia villica |
LC | any Prunus species |
| Peppered moth Biston betularia |
LC | this species |
| Scarlet tiger Callimorpha dominula |
LC | any Prunus species |
| Pale tussock Calliteara pudibunda |
LC | this species |
| Light emerald Campaea margaritaria |
LC | this species |
| Red-green carpet Chloroclysta siterata |
LC | any Prunus species |
| Chinese character Cilix glaucata |
LC | this species |
| Nut-tree tussock Colocasia coryli |
LC | this species |
| Feathered thorn Colotois pennaria |
LC | this species |
| Dark chestnut Conistra ligula |
LC | any Prunus species |
| The chestnut Conistra vaccinii |
LC | this species |
| Lunar-spotted pinion Cosmia pyralina |
LC | this species |
| The dun-bar Cosmia trapezina |
LC | this species |
| Scalloped oak Crocallis elinguaria |
LC | any Prunus species |
| No common name Curculio betulae |
Not assessed | this species |
| Purple clay Diarsia brunnea |
LC | this species |
| Barred chestnut Diarsia dahlii |
LC | this species |
| Ingrailed clay Diarsia mendica |
LC | this species |
| Broken-barred carpet Electrophaes corylata |
LC | this species |
| August thorn Ennomos quercinaria |
LC | this species |
| Pale november moth Epirrita christyi |
LC | this species |
| November moth Epirrita dilutata |
LC | any Prunus species |
| Small eggar Eriogaster lanestris |
LC | this species |
| Mottled pug Eupithecia exiguata |
LC | this species |
| Angle-barred pug Eupithecia innotata |
LC | this species |
| Brown-tail Euproctis chrysorrhoea |
LC | any Prunus species |
| Yellow-tail Euproctis similis |
LC | this species |
| The satellite Eupsilia transversa |
LC | this species |
| Great brocade Eurois occulta |
LC | this species |
| Common grammoptera Grammoptera ruficornis |
LC | this species |
| Common emerald Hemithea aestivaria |
LC | this species |
| Waved carpet Hydrelia sylvata |
LC | this species |
| Little emerald Jodis lactearia |
LC | this species |
| Pale-shouldered brocade Lacanobia thalassina |
LC | this species |
| Oak eggar Lasiocampa quercus |
LC | any Prunus species |
| Grass eggar Lasiocampa trifolii |
LC | this species |
| White-pinion spotted Lomographa bimaculata |
LC | this species |
| Clouded silver Lomographa temerata |
LC | this species |
| Sharp-angled peacock Macaria alternata |
LC | this species |
| Fox moth Macrothylacia rubi |
LC | this species |
| Lime hawk-moth Mimas tiliae |
LC | any Prunus species |
| Old lady Mormo maura |
LC | this species |
| The gothic Naenia typica |
LC | this species |
| Lesser yellow underwing Noctua comes |
LC | this species |
| Broad-bordered yellow underwing Noctua fimbriata |
LC | this species |
| Least black arches Nola confusalis |
LC | this species |
| Short-cloaked moth Nola cucullatella |
LC | this species |
| Scalloped hazel Odontopera bidentata |
LC | this species |
| Winter moth Operophtera brumata |
LC | this species |
| Northern winter moth Operophtera fagata |
LC | any Prunus species |
| Brimstone moth Opisthograptis luteolata |
LC | any Prunus species |
| The vapourer Orgyia antiqua |
LC | this species |
| Common quaker Orthosia cerasi |
LC | this species |
| Small quaker Orthosia cruda |
LC | this species |
| Powdered quaker Orthosia gracilis |
LC | this species |
| Blossom underwing Orthosia miniosa |
LC | this species |
| Swallow-tailed moth Ourapteryx sambucaria |
LC | this species |
| Sloe pug Pasiphila chloerata |
LC | this species |
| Green pug Pasiphila rectangulata |
LC | any Prunus species |
| Grass wave Perconia strigillaria |
LC | this species |
| Willow beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria |
LC | any Prunus species |
| Buff-tip Phalera bucephala |
LC | any Prunus species |
| Angle shades Phlogophora meticulosa |
LC | this species |
| Blue-bordered carpet Plemyria rubiginata |
LC | any Prunus species |
| December moth Poecilocampa populi |
LC | this species |
| Grey arches Polia nebulosa |
LC | this species |
| Large ranunculus Polymixis flavicincta |
LC | any Prunus species |
| Green silver-lines Pseudoips prasinana |
LC | this species |
| Beetle Saperda scalaris |
LC | this species |
| Emperor moth Saturnia pavonia |
LC | this species |
| Small blood-vein Scopula imitaria |
LC | any Prunus species |
| Early thorn Selenia dentaria |
LC | this species |
| Lunar thorn Selenia lunularia |
LC | this species |
| Eyed hawk-moth Smerinthus ocellata |
LC | this species |
| Buff ermine Spilosoma lutea |
LC | this species |
| Lobster moth Stauropus fagi |
LC | this species |
| Red-belted clearwing Synanthedon myopaeformis |
LC | any Prunus species |
| Yellow-legged clearwing Synanthedon vespiformis |
LC | any Prunus species |
| Dotted clay Xestia baja |
LC | this species |
| Triple-spotted clay Xestia ditrapezium |
LC | this species |
| Double square-spot Xestia triangulum |
LC | this species |
| Leopard moth Zeuzera pyrina |
LC | this species |
Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.