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

Identification

Usually distinctive.

Photo required for record acceptance due to rarity status.

Recording Method.

Attracted to light, also comes to sugar and flowers.

Life cycle

One generation. Overwinters as a fully grown larva. Larvae August until spring. Pupates underground.

Larval foodplants

A wide variety of herbaceous plants including docks and Wild Carrot.

Habitat

Coastal sand-dunes and other dry habitats.

History

Lennon (1863) stated it had occurred at Marchmount (VC72). Buchanan White of Perth (1895) listed it as occurring in Colvend and Southwick parishes (VC73). J. Garraway informed Gordon (1913) of two he had taken at sugar at the end of Drumblair Road, Luce Bay, in June 1905.

The only record since then was when D. R. Cowden found it at Portpatrick (VC74) sometime during 1972 (BRC data).