Robson recorded this species as 'Not very abundant [...] and, I think, becoming scarcer'. Fortunately we can say that the latter expectation has not been realised. [...] This striking moth is so easily seen that it is very well recorded. In Durham it is widespread and quite common, with records in almost every month of the year. Its habit of hibernating through the winter months is very easily broken by a slight rise in temperature, causing it to fly in December, January and February as well as at other times. As well as SaIix and Populus, TCD has also beaten larvae from Rowan, on which the larvae were subsequently reared to maturity.