Identification

Unmistakable.

Life cycle

Overwinters as a half-grown larva, close to the ground on vegetation. Larvae are present July to April, with pupation taking place in a cocoon spun among the plant stems.

Larval foodplants

A variety of herbaceous plants.

Habitat

A day-flying moorland species that is common and widespread in Scotland.

History 1860-2010

Lennon (1860) had stated he had found six of this species around Dumfries whilst out walking that season. By 1863, Lennon had found it at Tinwald Downs and Dalskairth, but found it not common. Robinson-Douglas (1874) had also found it on Almorness during that year. Buchanan White of Perth (1895) listed it as occurring in Colvend and Southwick parishes (VC73). These records are not shown in MOGBI. Morton (1899) had also found it at several localities near Monreith in July of that year. Gordon (1913) stated it was not uncommon among Bog Myrtle on all the moors around Corsemalzie, Wigtownshire. Also not shown in MOGBI for VC74.

Sir Arthur Duncan (1909-84) during his lifetime had found it at Closeburn, Tynron and Castlehill, Dumfries (all VC72) and Kirkconnell Flow (VC73). Archibald Russell during his stay at Gatehouse of Fleet in 1942-43 had found it locally.

There were two records during the 1970s, one from the Silver Flowe (VC73) the other from Lochmaben (VC72). It was not until portable trapping started in the mid-1990s that more records came along, mainly Mabie Forest, Knowetop Lochs, Kirkconnel Flow and other suitable sites.

In the first decade of the 21st century we have less than a handful of records from similar sites.