Distribution and Abundance: Very local.

Primary Habitat: Hedgerows.

Flight Period: Single brooded from August to October and after hibernation in the spring.

Locality: Wellingborough (larvae), Ekin’s Copse (larva).  

Observations: In 1996 caterpillars of this species were beaten commonly from a large area of hop growing in a hedgerow on the edge of Wellingborough. Although caterpillars were found in this hedge in the next year the hop worked elsewhere in the county has produced no further caterpillars. The moth is not greatly attracted to light and there are few other records over the years, the most recent being in 1969 at Bedford Purlieus. According to “The Flora of Northamptonshire,” hop is present in sixty-eight 5km squares covering almost the entire county and as hardly any of these sites have been searched for caterpillars it seems very likely that further colonies could be present. This remains the best way of increasing the known distribution of the species. A single caterpillar was beaten from hop at Ekin’s Copse on 12 July 2004.

L.O.N.: 1907. Geddington Chase, Oundle.

First Record: 1905, Barton Seagrave, Wallis.