Status and Distribution
Very local, formerly found in reasonable numbers at regularly visited sites in the 19th century. More recently only reported in small numbers but does not appear to be demonstrating any contraction of range.
Predominantly a Scottish moth with its centre of population in the Highlands. Elsewhere in Scotland, there are scattered records, mainly from coastal dune systems and an isolated hill in the North East and three lowland raised bogs (mosses) in the central and southern lowlands. In England it occurs at Malham Tarn (1958 - 2011), Yorkshire and, in 2014, a single male was attracted to MV light in Buttermere, Cumbria. It appears to be absent from Wales, all of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the far north of Scotland, including the Western and Northern Isles.
