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

Identification

Usually distinctive. Female is wingless and flightless.

Recording method

Females can be found at night on tree trunks. Males attracted to light.

Life cycle

One generation. Overwinters as a pupa. Larvae early April to mid June. Pupates underground.

Larval foodplants

Pedunculate Oak and Sessile Oak.

Habitat

Mature, especially ancient, oak woods. May also be found in other habitats where mature oaks are present.

History

First recorded for Dumfries and Galloway in 1892 for VC73 at Mabie Forest by Lennon, in 1910 for VC74 at Corsemalzie by Gordon who stated that several were ‘bred on from larvae taken by J. Garraway near the Cock Inn, Luce Bay, in June 1902’ and in 1951 for VC72 at Tynron by Duncan.