The Orange Moth favours long established broadleaved woodland, in Hampshire particularly on the central chalk belt and on clay.  It also occupies wooded heathland, scrub and large ancient hedgerows.  The larvae feed on Hazel, birches, Alder, hawthorns and other broadleaved trees. The adults are variable and can have extensive dark shading on the wings. In Hampshire in the last few years it has staged a small recovery from a low ebb about ten years ago.