- Lifespan
- 4–6 weeks as an adult moth
- Size & Weight
- wingspan 38–42 mm
- Habitat
- Woodlands, hedgerows, gardens, and scrubland where elderberry and other host plants grow.
- UK Distribution
- Found throughout England, Wales, and southern Scotland; resident species with populations increasing northwards in recent decades.
- Diet
- Adults feed on nectar and sap from flowers and plants, particularly favoring elderflower.
- Predators
- Bats, birds, and parasitoid wasps that target the larvae.
- Mating Season
- June to August
- Breeding
- Females lay eggs singly or in small groups on host plants, primarily elder and other Sambucus species. Single generation per year. Larvae feed throughout autumn and early winter before pupating.
- Behaviour
- A nocturnal species attracted to light sources. The adult moth has distinctive pale yellow or cream wings with dark markings, and the abdomen has characteristic tail-like extensions on the hindwings that resemble a swallow's tail. Adults are most active in summer evenings.