DOTTED BORDER

ADULT: Wingspan - 36 - 42mm.  The males of this species have orange-brown forewings that bear and almost straight inner crossline and an outer crossline that has one indentation.  The wings usually look peppered and both forewings and hindwings have a series of dots along the outer edge, hence the moth's name.  LARVA: The variable  larvae feed are greenish-brown and have dark x-shaped markings on their back.  They feed on a variety of deciduous trees such as Hawthorn, Oak, Maple, Sycamore, Birch and Hazel. It pupates in the soil.  BEHAVIOUR:  The females are flightless, and have only vestigial wings. The male comes to light. The females can be found by searching tree trunks just after sunset and again in the early morning. HABITAT: Found in woodland, gardens, hedgerows, scrub, heathland, moorland and woodland margins. FLIGHT PERIOD: On the wing from February to April. STATUS: Resident.