Distribution and Abundance: Common.

Primary Habitat: Woodland.

Flight Period: Double brooded in May and June and again in August.

Observations: : Returns from the Pitsford Water static m.v. light traps for the four years 1999 to 2002 show moths of the second brood to be more plentiful at light than those of the first brood. This also applies to the Fineshade Rothamsted light trap in the 1990’s where all moths were second brood moths. The actual catches were as follows:- Pitsford first brood - 23, second brood - 36. Fineshade second brood - 4. The moth was particularly plentiful, with a predominance of dark forms in June 1989 amongst the large old birches in Highlands near to Overstone. In the past I have found the caterpillar feeding on small birches in the late summer.

L.O.N.: 1892. Geddington Chase, Farming Woods. Twice only.

First Record: 1892, Wallis.