Ground Lackey

A nationally scarce moth which, in Kent, is only found on the tip of Grain, the Medway and Swale estuaries and the saltmarsh around Pegwell Bay.  This is because its preferred habitat is saltmarsh and despite the guidebooks suggesting it can also be found on coastal shingle, this is not evidenced in Kent.  The larvae can be numerous on saltmarsh between April and June with the adults flying mostly in July and August. 

 Superficially similar to <a href="https://kent-moths.vercel.app/species/malacosoma-neustria">The Lackey</a>, but Ground Lackey does not have parallel crosslines, instead with a kinked inner cross line.  As with most Eggar species, which are sexually dimorphic,  the female is also usually considerably larger.

Pale Eggar

Despite the guide books suggesting this is a common moth, it is very local in Kent, having undergone a significant range contraction.  Since the year 2000 this moth has been found almost exclusively in the Orlestone/Hamstreet woods complex. 

Pale Eggar cannot really be confused with other Eggar species as it is the only pale and dark grey one amongst them.  However, it could be mistaken for <a href="https://kent-moths.vercel.app/species/thaumetopoea-processionea">Oak&nbsp;Processionary</a> or <a href="https://kent-moths.vercel.app/species/thaumetopoea-pityocampa">Pine Processionary</a> - on Pale Eggar there is a darker grey central band flanked by paler bands across the forewing.

The Lackey

Common in Kent but not evenly distributed, with the middle of the county lacking records.  A fairly distinctive species, but to be sure, the key features are the mostly parallel cross lines on the forewing and the chequered fringes to the forewing.

Kent Moth Group

The Lackey

Malacosoma neustria

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Distribution in Kent

Phenology

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