Identification

The chevron shaped central cross band gives the moth a distinctive feature. Females are smaller and darker.

Recording method

Male flies at dusk, comes to light.

Life cycle

One generation. Overwinters as an egg on the foodplant. Larvae appear during May and June, with pupation taking place between spun leaves on the foodplant.

Larval foodplants

Larvae feed on willows, Aspen and probably other woody plants.

Habitat

Upland moorland and scrub, but also some lowland habitats.

History

First recorded for Dumfries and Galloway in 1862 for VC72 at the Crichton Institution, Dumfries by Lennon who found it ‘common’,  1870 for VC73 at Colvend parish by Duncan and in 1898 for VC74 at Corsemalzie by Gordon.