Identification

Unmistakable. Care required to separate from other ‘pugs,’ if not known to you.

Recording method

Easily disturbed from bushes by day, comes to light.

Life cycle

Two generations. Overwinters as a pupa. Larvae are present from early May to late October.

Larval foodplants

Flowers of a wide variety of plants, including Broom, Gorse, Heather, Holly, Ivy, Ragworts, Rowan, Sea Aster and Traveller’s-joy.

Habitat

Gardens, Heathland, Moorland and Woodland.

History

First recorded for Dumfries and Galloway for VC73 at Dalskairth by Lennon who stated that it was ‘not common’, in 1898 for VC74 at Corsemalzie by Gordon who ‘caught two flying at dusk’, and in 1970 for VC72 at Closeburn by Duncan.