Distribution and Abundance: Rather local.

Primary Habitat: Woodland.

Flight Period: Single brooded in October and November.

Localities: Hazelborough Wood, Hardwick Wood (larvae), Brampton Wood and Castor Hanglands.

Observations: Although in terms of its post 1980 distribution this species is clearly widespread, in more recent years it has been noticeable less plentiful. My own field records show that I have seen the moth in seven out of the last ten years but it has always been in very small numbers and the colourful caterpillars are no longer readily seen in the hedgerows. As this also applies to caterpillars of The Lackey moth (M. neustria), it is open to speculation whether greater vehicle pollution and more indiscriminate hedge cutting are contributing to a decline in these species. Light trap records from a Wellingborough garden in the 1950’s show an annual average of three moths recorded whereas those from the Fineshade woodland trap in the 1990’s average a single moth annually. The moth has only appeared once in the Pitsford Reservoir static light traps over the past decade.

L.O.N.: 1907. Many localities. Common. At light, etc.

First Record: 1881, Porritt.