Identification

Care required to separate from other ‘pugs.’ A conspicuous elongated dark dash, with a series of small black wedges near, towards the apex, a narrow, pale outer cross-band that is angled at the costa with two pale streaks extending outwards on a greyish-brownish forewing should identify it.

Recording method

Comes to light.

Life cycle

One generation. Overwinters as a pupa. Larvae are present late June to early October.

Larval foodplants

Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Midland Hawthorn and Rowan.

Habitat

Gardens, woodland, hedgerows and scrub.

History

First recorded for Dumfries and Galloway in 1862 for VC73 at Glen Mills by Lennon who stated that it was ‘not very common’, but not until 1970 for VC72 at Closeburn by Duncan and only in 2014 for VC74 on the Mull of Galloway by Robert Conn.