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

Identification

Usually distinctive. Care required, potential confusion with Ingrailed Clay.

Recording Method.

Attracted to light, also comes to sugar and flowers.

Life cycle

Two overlapping generations. Overwinters as a larva. Larvae September to April and again  June and July. Pupates  underground.

Larval foodplants

A range of herbaceous plants including Foxglove, Dandelions and docks.

Habitat

Aside range of habitats but mainly damp woodland and marshy areas and gardens.

History

Gordon (1913) had stated it to be generally distributed in Wigtownshire, sometimes common. He had found that it came to sugar in the woods around Corsemalzie, that it came to light, and on ragwort at Glenluce golf course on 26th July 1905. Earliest date was 27th June 1899.

William Evans received specimens from Mowat, the Killantringan lighthouse keeper during 1915 to aid his insect migration studies.

Sir Arthur Duncan (1909-84) during his lifetime had found it at Tynron and Castlehill, Dumfries (all VC72).

E. C. Pelham-Clinton during the mid 1960s found it at Palnackie, Rockcliffe, Kirkbean and Caulkerbush (VC73).

During 1974-93 all seven Rothamsted stations provided over four hundred records, proving it to be widespread.

From 1992 to 2010 there were 550 records, with a good number from the regular trapped sites at Kirkton, Cally Woods, Mersehead RSPB, Kircudbright, Durisdeer and Old Torr, with the rest from widely scattered sites across the region.