73.039 BF2279

The Sycamore Acronicta aceris

(Linnaeus, 1758)

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Wingspan 35-45 mm.

Like several other Acronicta species, the ground colour varies from pale grey to dark sooty-grey.

The species is distributed mainly in the south-eastern counties of England, with scattered records elsewhere.

The brightly-coloured caterpillar is covered with yellow and orange hairs and has a row of black-edged white blotches along the back. It feeds on horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) as well as sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) and field maple (A. campestre).