Invertebrates

Dark Bordered Beauty (Epione vespertaria, formerly E. paralellaria)

The Dark Bordered Beauty is currently only known from two populations, both in the Cairngorms. It favours areas where short Aspen (Populus tremula) suckers grow in open sunny locations. It overwinters during the egg stage, hatching late in the spring to coincide with the young Aspen suckers coming into leaf. The young larvae can be found dangling on short threads below the leaves. It only stays in this stage for 4-6 weeks before pupating on the ground. Males fly for an hour or so after sunrise and again at dusk, while females are sluggish and rarely seen. The main threat to this species is removal of its food plant due to habitat management or drainage. Aspen at the re-growth stage should be maintained and regeneration encouraged.

Life cycle

How to survey

The adults have been found to fly naturally at dawn, but they are not strongly attracted to light.