Red List: Least Concern (LC). GB Status: Common.

See also Moth of the Week (10/04/2020)

Identification

Usually distinctive.

Recording Method.

Attracted to light, also comes to sugar and flowers.

Life cycle

One generation. Overwinters as a pupa. Larvae  April and June. Pupates in a cocoon underground.

Larval foodplants

Oaks, birches, elms, hazel and sallows.

Habitat

Many habitats but most common in woodland.

History

Lennon (1863) stated it to be common everywhere around the Dumfries area. Gordon (1913) stated it was generally distributed and abundant in Wigtownshire, being found on sallow blossom in a very variable state. Earliest date was 23rd March 1906. 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.

Pelham-Clinton between 1954 and 1968 had found it at Glenluce (VC74), Bargrennan, Wood of Cree, Palnackie and Rockcliffe (all VC73). Then, during 1974-92 all seven Rothamsted stations regularly recorded it. From 1992 to 2010 Kirkton and Durisdeer (VC72), Cally Woods, Kirkcudbright, Milton and Carsfad near Dalry, provided the majority of records, with a number of other records from widespread sites across the region.