Description: Wingspan 20-24 mm. Adults resemble a bird dropping when at rest. Forewings greyish white with a dark brown blotch that merges with the black discal spot; the size of the blotch can vary between individuals. There are also darker blotches running along the dorsum of the forewing. Hindwings pale white with a small black discal spot and chequered fringe. End of May to late August. Skinner gives from summer to early autumn as the normal flight period in Britain.

World Distribution: Eurasiatic; common throughout Europe as far east as Asia and also North Africa.

Irish Distribution: Common and fairly widespread in eastern counties with the majority of records coming from well-recorded sites along the Down coastline. It has also been recorded from several inland sites in north Armagh at Loughgall, Aughinlig and Navan and also from Rathlin Island, Antrim.

Ecology: A polyphagous species found in a variety of habitats in small numbers. Adults come frequently to light and will occasionally visit flowers. The larvae feed during June and July on the flowers of mouse-ears Cerastium spp. It overwinters as a pupa.

Key Identification Features:

• Resemblance to a bird dropping when at rest
• Pale colouration of the forewings and the dark-coloured blotch at the costa
• White hindwings with the small black discal spot

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

iNaturalist: Eupithecia centaureata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.