[2] The species inhabits deciduous, mixed and coniferous forests, bushy heaths, meadows, marshes and settlement areas.

[3] This is an extremely variable species,[3] typically being buff or grey with black bars along the costa, but often with a broad blackish band across the forewings.

The larva is pale greenish-ochreous, brown-marked, sometimes suffused with dark grey, dusted with yellow.

See Townsend et al.[6] This moth flies at night in June and July in the British Isles.

[3] The larva feeds on the leaves and soft bark of a wide range of trees and other plants[3] (see list below).