Description: Wingspan 19-22 mm. Forewings ochreous grey, becoming lighter in the median area, with darker angulated crosslines. There is a small dark discal mark near the costa. Hindwings paler, becoming darker towards the outer margin with a small discal spot. Early March to the beginning of June. Skinner gives April and May as the normal flight period in Britain.

World Distribution: Common and widely distributed throughout central and southern Europe.

Irish Distribution: Common and widespread in eastern counties and parts of Fermanagh, but not recorded north of Lough Neagh, despite being described in the past as being common in oakwoods throughout Ireland (Donovan 1936). Its early flight period may mean that it under recorded in some areas and the general decline of deciduous woodlands has probably had some effect on local populations.

Ecology: An early spring species found in mature deciduous woodland. Adults come frequently to light in small numbers. The larvae feed during June and July on oak Quercus spp and Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna. It overwinters as a pupa.

Key Identification Features:

• Flight period
• Angulated crosslines and dark discal mark

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

iNaturalist: Eupithecia abbreviata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.