Herald

Appearance

Wingspan of about 44 mm. Wings ample; the forewing angled in middle of termen, concave between the angle and the acute apex. Forewing grey mixed with ochreous, with fuscous striae, posteriorly with a rosy tinge: the veins terminally whitish; an irregular median suffusion reaching from base to middle, orange red more or less mixed with yellow; inner and outer lines pale with dark edges; a white spot at base on median vein; a white dot represents the orbicular stigma; reniform formed of two black dots; hindwing fuscous, paler
at base; ab. ''suffusa'' Tutt is a scarce dark form without the usual rosy tinge in the terminal area of forewing;ab. ''pallidior'' Spul. includes pale whitish grey looking examples; while ''pallida'' Spul. refers to pale more yellowish specimens from Turkestan.

Behavior

The herald's flight period is between June and November, in one or two broods. During the winter the herald moth hibernates in dark, cool structures , returning to take wing again from March to June. Its habitat is woodland parks and gardens, and the resting wing pattern resembles a dead, shriveled leaf.

Herald caterpillars are a bright green shade common to many caterpillars. They are distinguished by the thin yellow lines running across the body between segments. When maturity is reached, they pupate between two leaves, in a white cocoon made of silk.

Food

Larval food plants include,
⤷  Willow
⤷  Aspen
⤷  Poplar

As adults
⤷ Ivy blossom
⤷ Ripe blackberries