Red List: Vulnerable (VU). GB Status: Common.

Identification

Usually distinctive. Female has vestigial wings and is flightless.

Recording method

Females can be found at night on tree trunks. Males attracted to light.

Life cycle

One generation. Overwinters as an egg on its foodplant. Larvae early April to late June.

Larval foodplants

A wide variety of broadleaved trees and shrubs including oaks, birches, hawthorns and Sycamore.

Habitat

Abundant in woodland, but also occurs in gardens, moorland, heathland and hedgerows.

History

First recorded for Dumfries and Galloway in 1862 for VC73 at Kirkconnell by Lennon who stated that it ‘was not common’, in 1898 for VC74 at Corsemalzie by Gordon who found it ‘common on hedges and on tree trunks after dark’ and that it ‘came to light’ and in 1951 for VC72 at Tynron by Duncan.