Identification

Unmistakable.

Life cycle

Two generations. Overwinters as a pupa, close to the ground in a cocoon. Larvae are present July, again, September.

Larval foodplants

Aspen, willows and poplars.

Habitat

Wide range of habitats where the foodplants of willows and poplars are found.

History 1860-2010

Lennon (1863) had a record from near Douay Vale Moss (VC72). Gordon (1913) had stated this to be very rare, having found one flying at dusk in a nearby wood mid-June 1897. During September he had occasionally taken the larvae on sallow around Corsemalzie.

Cunningham (1947) in the Transactions recorded one at light on 31st May 1947 in Mabie Forest (F. W. Smith). In 1950 seven larvae were taken, four at Gilchristland on poplar, one each at Tynron, Corsock and Black Loch (all VC72), and one at Corsock (VC73), all on sallow (Cunningham 1950).

During 1974-90 all seven Rothamsted stations recorded a hundred records between them, proving it a widespread species.

From 1992 to 2010 another hundred records were recorded, mainly from the regular trapped sites at Kirkton, Carsfad at Dalry, Cally WOods, Forest Moor, Kirkland and Durisdeer, with the rest from widely scattered sites across the region.