B&F: 2323

ABH: 73.164

Status: Resident.

Distribution and Abundance: Local.

Primary Habitat: Grassland.

Flight Period: Single brooded in June and July.

Localities: Hazelborough Forest, Ring Haw, Castor Hanglands and Barnock Hills and Holes.   

Observations: The only site where I have seen the moth at all plentifully is at Collyweston Quarry where on 4 July 1987 it was common both at light and at sugar. On this occasion about two dozen of the old fence posts surrounding the reserve were sugared just before dusk and moths were soon seen and eventually were present on most of the posts. Although the species also came to light they were seen earlier and were more numerous at sugar, possibly due to the prevailing warm still conditions on the night. Certainly light proved a very strong attractant on 16 June 2004 when one hundred and sixty examples of the moth were recorded in the quarry. The moths establishment on the limestone grassland in the north of the county was further confirmed when twenty-one examples were taken at Barnack Hills and Holes at light on 13 June 2004. The Hazelborough Forest locality derives from a singleton taken at light on 26 June 2004 from a grassy area within the forest suggesting the presence of further colonies in suitable habitat in south Northants.

L.O.N.: 1907. Geddington Chase, Kettering and Weedon. Not common.

First Record: 1882, Hull & Tomalin.