Distribution and Abundance: Common.

Primary Habitat: Woodland.

Flight Period: Single brooded in April and May.

Observations: The Fineshade Rothamsted light trap running in woodland in the 1990’s produced a total of thirty-three moths, three of which were the melanic ab. hirschkei. I have found the melanism at Grafton Park Wood and Geddington Chase to be rather greater than this.

L.O.N.: 1907. Many localities. Rather common.

First Record: 1902, Victoria County History.