Identification

Unmistakable.

Life cycle

One generation. Overwinters as a larvae over three or four seasons, the last occasion in a cocoon where it pupates in the spring. Eggs are laid in tree crevices in batches.

Larval foodplants

The larvae feed inside the stems and branches of many trees.

Habitat

Open woodland, parkland and scrub.

History 1860-2010

Two records during this period. Lennon (1863) had found it to be not common, but had a record for Dalskairth (VC73). The other record was of two larvae on the lawn at Terregles House on 8th September 1870 as found by the gardener, Mr. Johnston. The larvae were of great size, about three and a half inches in length, and were beautifully coloured – yellowish brown predominating.

There is a record for VC73 prior to 1960 in MOGBI, which shows it as occurring in widely scattered localities throughout Great Britain. This may be one of the records noted above.

This distinctive moth is also known from nearby areas like the Isle of Man, north-west England and northern Scotland. Kidd & Hewitt (2000) gave two records at least for Cumbria (VC69 and VC70) occurring in 1956 and 1983 respectively.