Identification

Unmistakable with very long, upturned palps or ‘snout.’ Second generation are generally smaller and darker.

Life cycle

Two overlapping generations. Overwinters as a larva during August to May, again, July, hiding by day and feeding at night. Pupation takes place from a cocoon that has been formed among leaves of the foodplant.

Larval foodplants

Common Nettle.

Habitat

A wide variety of habitats, wherever the foodplant is growing.

History 1860-2010

K. J. Morton of Edinburgh (1900) while on a visit in July 1899 to Wigtownshire had found this species in the Monreith area. Gordon (1919) had found it common and generally distributed among beds of nettles in Wigtownshire. Earliest date was 24th June 1911.

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

During 1974-93 all seven Rothamsted stations recorded 700 records between them, proving that it was a common widespread moth.

From 1993 to 2010 the regular trapped sites at Kirkton, Durisdeer, Cally Woods, Kirkcudbright, Kirkland, Carsluith, Carsfad at Dalry and Old Torr provided a good many of the 650 records in that period, but other widely scattered sites also contributed.