Identification

Care required to separate from other ‘pugs.’

Recording method

In upland moorland flies by day in hot weather, comes to light.

Life cycle

One generation. Overwinters as a pupa. Larvae are present July to September.

Larval foodplants

The larvae feed on the flowers of ragworts, Meadowsweet, Devil’s-bit Scabious, hawkweeds, knapweeds, Heather and Cross-leaved Heather.

Habitat

Upland grassland and moorland, lowland fens and bogs.

History

First recorded for Dumfries and Galloway in 1862 for VC73 at Glen Mills by Lennon who said it was ‘not common’, in 1899 for VC74 at Corsemalzie by Gordon who found it ‘common on moors’ and in 1943 for VC72 at Lochar by Duncan.