[...] The incidence of the species is poorly documented and imperfectly understood in any part of the country. The only hard fact is that it usually occurs in dense coniferous woods, although Skinner (Colour Id. Guide M. Brit. Is.) gives birch and oak as possible foodplants as well as conifers. The moth itself is such a dull creature, which very rapidly loses its pattern, that it is seldom taken in a recognisable condition. This characteristic undoubtedly causes it to be very easily misidentified as a form of Alcis repandata. [...] the Hamsterley Forest trap (TCD) captures it in large numbers each year, and a very strong colony is evidently firmly established there.