Common in woodland, scrubland, moorland and fens throughout the British Isles. Widespread and fairly common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 38-44 mm. Dark reddish-brown, often with pale irroration, eyes hairy (visible with hand lens) and pale shoulders (not unique to this species); resembles
Beautiful Brocade L. contigua (diagonal white band across forewing),
Clouded Brindle Apamea epomidion (eye hairless),
Dusky Brocade Apamea remissa (eye hairless) and
Dark Brocade Blepharita adusta (no pale basal patch). Larva feeds on a wide range of woody plants, including Pedunculate and Sessile Oak, Hawthorn, Apple, Sallow, Aspen and Honeysuckle, over-wintering as a pupa.