Identification

The small size, pale grey forewing with wavy black outer edge of cross-band is diagnostic.

Life cycle

One generation. Overwinters as an egg on its various foodplants. Larvae are present April to June, with pupation taking place in leaf litter in a cocoon.

Larval foodplants

Mainly birches, Hawthorn and Blackthorn.

Habitat

Open woodland, hedgerows, heathland and moorland.

History 1860-2010

First recorded by Archibald G. B. Russell (1944) who during the war had to spend 1942 and 1943 living near Gatehouse-of-Fleet without a car, so his mothing was confined to a couple miles distant. From these surrounds he produced the first list of moths for Kirkcudbrightshire, but none of the species had dates against them.

There were two records in the mid 1970s, singles from Springfield, Gretna with the other from Raeburn Flow.

It has been recorded twice from Durisdeer, 1991 and 2002, the former was a larva that was bred on that turned out to be a female. Another occurred in 2003 on Lowther Hill, with further records from Raeburn Flow in September, 2007.

Apart from the first all are from Dumfriesshire, but there were two others, both trapped on the Bennan, Glen Trool, Kirkcudbrightshire, in August, 2004.