Description: Wingspan 32-37mm. Adults are mainly reddish brown but like other 'highflyers' prone to some variation in N. Ireland. The forewings are narrow and have dark cross-lines and a short, oblique apical streak. From the beginning of May to mid-June.

World Distribution: Throughout Europe as far as Japan and north America.

Irish Distribution: Widely distributed in southern counties. Reported from Rathlin Island, Antrim in the 1980s, but otherwise rare north of Lough Neagh. Refound in Tyrone at Annaloughan Bog, Davagh Forest and Rehaghy. These are first recent records for the county since the early part of the 20th century, when it was recorded from Favour Royal and the Cookstown area. Other recent records include Legatillida, Tullyreagh Bridge and Carrowmaculla Lough, Fermanagh, also Lackan Bog and Belvoir Park, Down.

Ecology: A species associated with heaths, damp woodland, and wet marshy areas. Skinner states that adults can be found at rest on tree trunks and fence posts. The larvae can be found from July until September on willows Salix spp. It overwinters as a pupa.

Key Identification Features:

• Short oblique apical streak on forewings.
• Narrower forewings

Distribution Map from NBN: Hydriomena ruberata at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Hydriomena ruberata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.