Commonly found in wet acid moorland, although many have been trapped on machair, from August to September. A very variable species that can only be reliably identified by examination of the genitalia. The larval food-plants are mainly common cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum) and purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea).

References: 
Leverton, R. & Cubitt, M. (2024). The Larger Moths of Scotland.
Waring, P. & Townsend, M. (2018 third edition). Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland.