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

Identification

Usually distinctive. Care required, potential confusion with Lesser Cream Wave and Cream Wave.

Recording Method

Attracted to light in small numbers. Easily disturbed from low vegetation by day.

Life cycle

One generation. Overwinters as a larva. Larvae August to late May. Pupates close to the ground in plant debris.

Larval foodplants

Heather and Bilberry.

Habitat

Heathland, moorland and bogs.

History

First recorded  in Dumfries and Galloway in VC74 around Corsemalzie by Gordon who wrote ‘locally common on moorlands all over the district where Bog Myrtle occurs, early date’ (26th June).

The first for VC73 was from Gatehouse of Fleet by Russell and for VC72 from Lochar Moss, Dumfries by Duncan.   Many records came from the Rothamsted trap network the mid 1970’s where five of the seven stations provided over forty records.