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

Identification

Usually distinctive.

Recording Method.

Attracted to light, also comes to sugar and flowers.

Life cycle

One generation with possible partial second generation. Overwinters as a pupa. Larvae July to October. Paupates underground.

Larval foodplants

A wide variety of low-growing plants, including nettles and Hedge Bedstraw.

Habitat

A wide variety of different habitats including gardens, farmland, hedgerows, heathland and woodland margins.

History

Lennon (1863) stated that it was rather common and that it had occurred at Terregles (VC72). Several larvae taken by J. Garraway on nettle and dock at Alticry Glen, Luce Bay (VC74), were bred on in July 1902 (Gordon 1913). Sir Arthur Duncan (1909-84) during his lifetime had found it at Closeburn, Tynron and Castlehill, Dumfries (all VC72).

During 1974-93 it was regularly recorded from all seven Rothamsted stations, with other records in that period from the Hensol Estate. From 1992 to 2010, the regular trapped sites at Kirkton, Durisdeer (VC72), Cally Woods, Old Torr and Kirkcudbright (VC73), and Forest Moor in Wigtownshire have proved this to be a widespread common moth.