B&F: 1787

ABH: 70.120

Status: Former resident.

Distribution and Abundance: Very local.

Primary Habitat: Woodland.

Flight Period: Early records extend from 17 May to 25 June.

Localities and Last record: Wakerley Wood to 1949, Bedford Purlieus to 1956, Castor Hanglands pre 1961. Last record post 1961 Sywell Wood (B. Adams).

Observations: Writing in the 1960’s in his unpublished paper, “The Lepidoptera of Castor Hanglands and Ailsworth Heath 1911 – 1960,” R. E. M. Pilcher stated that the moth was common in some years on the reserve. It has not been seen there in years subsequent to the review period. The species is known to have declined nationally and the decline of the moth in Northamptonshire mirrors the national picture.  There is a small chance however that it may still be hanging on in some of its old sites where there is birch regeneration, as to my knowledge the county has not been worked extensively for the moth in recent years.

L.O.N.: Unrecorded.

First Record: 1882, Yardley Chase etc., Hull & Tomalin.