Identification

Very distinctive.

Recording Method.

Attracted to light, also comes to sugar and flowers.

Life cycle

Two generations. Overwinters as a larva which is known to feed all year. Pupates in a cocoon just below the soil surface.

Larval foodplants

Larvae feed on wide range of herbaceous and woody plants.

Habitat

Virtually all habitats.

History

The earliest notification of this species is published in Stephens (1829) with the Rev. William Little recording it to be rare at Raehills (VC72).

Lennon (1863) stated it was common everywhere in his ‘List of Lepidoptera taken near Dumfries.’ Gordon (1913) stated it to be common and generally distributed in Wigtownshire. William Evans received specimens during 1913-15 from Mowat the lighthouse keeper at Killantingan (VC74) as part of his migration insect study.

Sir Arthur Duncan (1909-84) during his lifetime had found it at Closeburn, Tynron and Castlehill, Dumfries (all VC72). Archibald Russell (1944) listed it as occurring near Gatehouse of Fleet (VC73) during the years 1942-43.

From 1975-92 it was recorded annually at the the seven Rothamsted stations, but in small numbers. Since then it had been trapped at widespread sites across the region and can also be found at ivy blossom in mid-October; some of these may be migrants.