Identification

Forewing greyish straw with variable fine blackish dusting, middle vein white and thickened into a white spot where it branches out. Curved outer row of dark dots. Hindwing white and darkened along veins.

Recording Method.

Attracted to light, also comes to sugar and flowers.

Life cycle

One generation. Overwinters as a full grown larva, during July to April, generally in a hollow broken stem. Pupation takes place in the spring inside Common Reed.

Larval foodplants

Common Reed.

Habitat

Reed-beds, marshes, riverside situations. Mainly coastal habitats but occasionally inland.

History

The first record came on 9th June 2002 at Auchencairn, with further records in 2003, 2004, 2008 and 2010.

During 2010 it was also trapped on the other side of Auchencairn Bay at Old Torr on two separate occasions in June. There is one other record from Kirkcudbright, adjacent to the estuary, also in 2010.