Davey, P., 2009: A local species confined to southern England, the larva feeding on sallow (Salix spp.), blackthorn (Prunus spp.), sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), and alder (Alnus spp.). In Dorset, the moth is common wherever sallow and blackthorn grows and has been recorded from most localities across the county. The national norm is for a single brood, but in Dorset the moth appears to have two brood cycles, a single brood in late June and a double brood in early June and early August.

Diagnostics include: sharply indented notch on the edge of the forewing; notch prominently edged with black (not lightly edged with brown); greyish ground colour (not white); smaller black 'paw-print' on forewing; often with broad grey banding on wings.