B&F: 2297

ABH: 73.062

Status: Resident.

Distribution and Abundance: Common.

Primary Habitat: Woodland.

Flight Period: Single brooded from August to October.

Observations: : In my experience the moth is usually more numerous at sugar than at light. It was plentiful at sugar on 9 September 1993 at Ashton Wold with some twenty examples being attracted, whereas m.v. light traps left overnight on the same visit were much less successful in only catching four moths. In the past I have found the caterpillar on the underside of leaves of small sallows growing along the sides of woodland rides. The species is similar in appearance to its congener Svensson’s Copper Underwing (Amphipyra berbera).

There have been many tips documented for use to differentiate the two Copper Underwing species, but the only reliable method is to check the underside of the hindwings:
Greater suffusion of copper colouration seen on the underside of the hindwings of Copper Underwing.
The zig-zag patern on the forewing and colour of palps have both recently been discredited as being unreliable.
Copper Underwings compared

Confusion Species: Svensson's Copper Underwing. Identification: Hindwing check/dissection to confirm - or Aggregate if in doubt

L.O.N.: 1907. Many localities. Common at sugar.

First Record: 1843, Whitwell.