This is an easily recorded species because the all-white males perform a highly visible hovering flight in the early evening - presumably to attract the yellow/brown females - 'dancing' over grasslands in a ghostly manner and so giving rise to the English name.

Hertfordshire Notes: In the 1937 list, Foster stated, simply, that this moth was 'Common in all districts' and gave no further details. This situation has changed somewhat since then, for although the moth remains a frequent sight for those out and about at dusk in June and July, there are certainly several grassland areas where the moth is not recorded. The distribution map may suggest that there has been a small decline in predominantly urban areas and in the arable north-east - both parts of the county where there has been a significant reduction in available habitat. Whilst records suggest that acid, neutral and calcareous swards are all capable of supporting populations, longevity of habitat appears to be a crucial factor, with newer, planted or regenerated grasslands apparently not usually able to support populations of the moth. The reason for this is almost certainly because the larvae overwinter twice; if these are destroyed there remains no species reservoir for recolonisation when the works are completed.

Middlesex Notes: Locally distributed, though sometimes not uncommon numerically, in areas where older, unmanaged grassland habitats persist. However, when grasslands are "improved" the moth is inevitably lost and as a result this species is probably declining throughout Middlesex. A simple count of records per year suggests that we have lost this species from around 40% of reported sites over the last 25 years.

Recorded in 35 (85%) of 41 10k Squares. Last Recorded in 2024. Additional Stats

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