Identification

Unmistakable. Our race plumbata has the central crossband complete whereas the nominate race of further south in Britain does not.

Recording method

Flies at early dusk and comes to light in small numbers.

Life cycle

One generation. Overwinters as an egg, generally laid in the fork of a twig on Alder and Blackthorn. Larvae are present late April to early June, with pupation taking place in a cocoon on the foodplant.

Larval foodplants

Larval feed on mainly Alder and Blackthorn, with birches, Hawthorn and fruit trees also recorded.

Habitat

Damp woodland adjacent to ponds, hedgerows, orchards and Alder stands by burns.

History

First recorded for Dumfries and Galloway in VC72 in 1820 at Raehills, St. Ann’s by Little, for VC73 in 1862 at Mabie Forest by Lennon and for VC74 in 1899 at Corsemalzie by Gordon.