Identification

The orange-brown outer cross-band on both the forewing and underwing, a slight concavity in the costa with a pointed hindwing is diagnostic.

Recording method

Readily disturbed from the branches of the food-plant conifers, comes readily to light.

Life cycle

One generation. Overwinters as a pupa just below the ground or among fallen conifer needles. Larvae are present late June to August.

Larval foodplants

Scots Pine and Norway Spruce.

Habitat

Widespread wherever there are conifer plantations.

History

First recorded for Dumfries and Galloway in 1862 for VC73 at Dalskairth by Lennon who stated that it was ‘not common’, in 1911 for VC74 at Corsemalzie by Gordon who had only a single specimen taken ‘while it was at rest on a spruce fir branch’, and in 1945 for VC72 at Tynron by Duncan.

The first record of this melanic form nigrofulvata Collins was found in late June 1988 by Pelham-Clinton at Corsemalzie (VC74).