Red List: Least Concern (LC). GB Status: Common.

See also Moth of the Week (27/10/2019)

Identification

Usually distinctive.

Recording Method.

Attracted to light, also comes to sugar and flowers.

Life cycle

One generation. Overwinters as an adult. Larvae April to June. Pupates in a cocoon underground.

Larval foodplants

Omnivorous. Broadleaved trees including  oaks, elms, Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Hazel. When larger also preys on other larvae.

Habitat

Gardens, broadleaved woodland and moorland.

History

Lennon (1863) had stated it to be common everywhere around the Dumfries area. Gordon (1913) had found it to be common, having found it at sugar on 7th October 1897, ivy blossom on 9th October 1897, birch sap on 20th March 1906 and sallow on 3rd April 1897, all around the Corsemalzie area, Wigtownshire. Additional to MOGBI for VC74.

Sir Arthur Duncan (1909-84) during his lifetime had found it at Closeburn, Tynron and Castlehill, Dumfries (all VC72). Archibald Russell (1944) listed it as occurring near Gatehouse of Fleet (VC73) during the years 1942-43.

During 1974-90 there were 135 records from Gatehouse of Fleet, Bridge of Dee, Mabie Forest (VC73) and Waterside Mains at Keir, Rothamsted stations.

From 1992 to 2010 the regular trapped sites at Kirkton and Cally Woods, and to a lesser extent Durisdeer, Castle Loch, Lochmaben, Forest Moor (VC74) and Old Torr, with a few others from scattered sites across VCs 72 and 73.