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Goat Moth
Cossus cossus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Cossidae: Cossinae
162 / 50.001
Photo © Paul Kitchener,  Shottisham, 20 June 2023

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Similar Species: None
Forewing: 32-42mm.
Flight: One generation. June-July.
Foodplant:   Broadleaved trees. sallows, willows and poplars
Red List: Least Concern (LC)
GB Status: Common
Former Status: Nationally Scarce B
Verification Grade:  Adult: 1
Status
Morley's Final Catalogue: Larvae are only too frequent everywhere in various trees, mainly willow; imagines much less commonly seen at: Copdock on sugar, Bentley woods at Ipswich lights, Bramford, Playford, Felixstow, Martlesham, bred at Monks Soham in 1905, Fressingfield, twice on sugar at Eye (Tyrer, Ent. Wk. Intell. viii, 1860, 147), on sugar at Beccles; Gorleston. Bury (Norgate); bred at Mildenhall in July 1900.

Recent Suffolk status: Scarce, mainly noted from river valleys. Some records of the distinctive large larvae when they leave inhabited trees to find pupation sites.

Life history: Larva takes 3-4 years to mature. Inhabited trees can show much damage, oozing sap and sawdust with old large emergence holes and smelling 'goaty'. Trees used are often in wet areas. Moth flies in the summer.

Identification: Unmistakeable, a large moth.

Habitats: Wetlands, wet woodlands, river valleys, open woodland.

Recorded in 20 (34%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1900.
Last Recorded in 2024.
Additional Stats

Latest 10 Records
Date#VC10kArea
18/08/2024125TM24Woodbridge/Martlesham
08/08/2024125TM24Woodbridge/Martlesham
02/08/2024125TM45Aldeburgh/Orford
31/07/2024125TM34Hollesley/Rendlesham Forest
29/07/2024125TM34Hollesley/Rendlesham Forest
18/07/2024125TM25Wickham Market/Otley
30/06/2024125TM24Woodbridge/Martlesham
18/06/2024126TL78Brandon/Lakenheath
14/06/2024325TM14Ipswich
20/12/2023125TM24Woodbridge/Martlesham
Further info: Cossus cossus
 
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