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.