Description: Wingspan 35-38mm. Adults generally brown in colour with a distinctive long white streak running the length of the forewing wings to the tip. There is oval shaped mark in the central area of the forewing and a small white crossline at the outer margin. Mid-September to mid-November.

World Distribution: Central and south-west Europe.

Irish Distribution: Widely distributed in Down where most of the recent records have come; more local elsewhere. The only recent record from Armagh is Annagarriff Wood NNR, Peatlands Park. Not reported from any of its former haunts in the north of the county. There are old records from Rostrevor, Down, Traad Point, Londonderry and Tempo Manor, Fermanagh.

Ecology: An autumnal species found on heaths, bogs and other areas where the foodplant grows. Adults come to light only sparingly, but have been found at rest on the stems of broom after dark. Its late flight period and reduced fieldwork at this time of the year make it difficult to ascertain its true distribution at the present time. The larvae can be found in May and June on Broom Cytisus scoparius. It overwinters as an egg.

Key Identification Features:

• Long white streak running the length of the forewings
• Small white wavy line running across near outer margin of forewing
• Hindwings pale whitish brown

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

iNaturalist: Chesias legatella at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.