Davey, P., 2009: A species found in southern England and Wales, the larva feeding on wild privet (Ligustrum vulgare), holly (Ilex aquifolium), ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and lilac (Syringa vulgaris). In Dorset, the moth is commonest in chalky districts where wild privet and ash occur together and rarest where these two plants are absent, for example on heathland. Frequent trapping in holly-rich habitat, such as Holt Wood, has failed to produce the moth, although Reverend E Bankes found the larva feeding on a holly tree in his garden at Corfe Castle in 1888.

Recorded in 39 (98%) of 40 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1888.
Last Recorded in 2019.
(Data up to end 2019)