Distribution and Abundance: Local.

Primary Habitat: Woodland.

Flight Period: Single brooded in March and April.

Localities: Pentmore Wood, Hazelborough Wood, Salcey Forest and Yardley Chase.

Observations: Formerly more widespread in the county the species now seems to be restricted to the south preferring open areas of woodland. In recent years many attempts have been made to update records from some of the old sites such as Castor Hanglands, Bedford Purlieus, Geddington Chase and Hardwick Wood, all without success. In the late 1980’s caterpillars were found commonly in Salcey Forest feeding on hawthorn bushes growing under the oaks. The SP76 record refers to a single male moth taken on 17 April 1993 in a Northampton garden light trap. On 11 April 2004 a male moth was taken at m.v. light in a garden in Lower Benefield. On 3 May 2006 a singleton was also taken at m.v. light in Warmington. These could both have been migrants.

L.O.N.: Undated. Northampton. 

First Record: 1907, Wallis. The record is not included in L.O.N.