Identification

Care required to separate it from Chevron, Dark Spinach and Spinach. The double projection on the dark central cross-band, with a series of round or oval paler blotches internally, with the triangular blotch at the apex should help to identify it.

Recording method

Flies from dusk, comes to light.

Life cycle

One generation. Overwinters as an egg on the foodplant. Larvae are present April to June, pupating in a cocoon on the foodplant or on the ground below.

Larval foodplants

Bilberry.

Habitat

Moorland and open upland woodland.

History

First recorded for Dumfries and Galloway in 1858 for VC72 near Moffat by Somerville who had found it to be ‘common’,  in 1862 for VC73 at Dalskairth by Lennon who reported that it was ‘not common’ and in 1897 for VC74 at Corsemalzie by Gordon who thought that it was ‘scarce, taken a few near Kennel Wood and on the moors where bog myrtle grows’.