See also Moth of the Week (25/08/2019)

Identification

Specimen or quality photo required for record acceptance due to its rarity status. Very similar to Water Carpet, which is larger and only appears in the spring; also Small Phoenix, but that lacks the strong central projection on the outer side of the cross-band.

Recording method

Flies at early dusk, comes to light.

Life cycle

Overwinters as a pupa, presumably under plant debris on the ground. Larva appear during June to July and September to October. The eggs are laid near the flowers of the foodplant.

Larval foodplants

Marsh Bedstraw.

Habitat

Damp woodland, on heavy soils.

History

First recorded for Scotland and Dumfries and Galloway in 2013 in VC74 at Glassoch Farm, north-west of Newton Stewart by Richard Mearns, in 2015 for VC72 at Caerlaverock by Alison Robertson and also in 2015 for VC73 at Rascarrell Plantation by Richard Mearns.