Distribution and Abundance: Common.

Primary Habitat: Woodland. 

Flight Period: Single brooded from July to September.   

Observations: The moth is particularly plentiful in the Pitsford Reservoir light traps with an average of 225 moths taken annually between 1999 and 2003. This figure contrasts sharply with the Fineshade woodland Rothamsted trap where the average annual catch between 1993 and 1997 was fifteen. The caterpillar is a well-known cannibal and in the past I have seen it attack and start to devour caterpillars much larger than itself.

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

First Record: 1843, Whitwell.