Identification

Unmistakable with whitish kidney-mark and two whitish streaks emanating from it towards the outer edge. Crescent is similar but is larger and has a pale outer cross band.

Recording Method.

Attracted to light, also comes to sugar and flowers.

Life cycle

One generation. Overwinters as an egg. Larvae present April to July, with pupation taking place close to the ground in a cocoon.

Larval foodplants

Common Cottongrass, rushes and club-rushes.

Habitat

Boggy acid moorland, marshes and fens.

History 1860-2010

Lennon (1863) stated that it was very rare, but that it had occurred at Clumptown (VC72). Douglas Robinson (1870-71) had found one at Cloke Moss (VC73) in July. W. S. Brocklehurst informed Gordon (1913) that he had taken it not uncommonly at light at Park Place, Glenluce, in August, 1910. Cunningham (1947) in the Transactions stated that F. W. Smith, Sir Arthur Duncan and himself had all taken it on Lochar Moss (VC72).

During 1969-2010 there had been seventy records from suitable habitat sites such as Torrs Warren in the west, Corserig Hill, Kelloholm in the north, Perchhall Loch SSSI in the east, and Auchencairn on the south coast.