Identification

A pale to dark greyish moth with numerous faint cross-lines on the forewing. It has a slightly darker cross-band often with a paler band within it, and always with an elongated blackish central spot.

Recording method

Often disturbed by day, comes to light.

Life cycle

Two generations. Overwinters dormant in a cocoon as a fully-grown larva until April or May, having been present from July.

Larval foodplants

Larvae feed on bedstraws.

Habitat

Mainly rocky moorland, but sometimes other habitats.

History

First recorded for Dumfries and Galloway in 1911 for VC74 at Corsemalzie by Gordon who said it was ‘not uncommon in Wigtownshire at light, on sallows on the moors, and at rest on rocks there’, in 1930 for VC72 at Closeburn by Duncan and in 1942 for VC73 near Gatehouse of Fleet by Russell.