Identification

Care is needed to separate from other ‘thorns.’ The orange-brown or fawn coloured wings, that are lightly speckled and the absence of a central crescent should separate it from other ‘thorns.’

Recording method

Comes to light.

Life cycle

One generation. Overwinters as an egg on the foodplant. Larvae are present from May to early July, with pupation taking place between spun leaves.

Larval foodplants

Beech, birches, limes and oaks.

Habitat

Woodland. parkland and gardens.

History

First recorded for Dumfries and Galloway in 1862 for VC73 in Mabie Forest by Lennon who stated that it was ‘not common’ , in 1932 for VC72 at Closeburn by Duncan but not until 1976 for VC74 at the Penninghame House Rothamsted moth trap.