Description: Wingspan 20-22mm. A small white moth, silky in appearance with fine brown cross-lines across all wings. From mid-May to the end of June.

World Distribution: Throughout Europe to western Asia.

Irish Distribution: A scarce Hazel-feeding species confined in recent times to a few woodlands in Down. It was initially reported in Down from Derryleckagh and Bohill NNR in the early 1990s but was not seen again until 1999, when it was taken from the same localities by day. These two sites seem to support small but stable populations. Other records from Down include Rostrevor and Crawfordsburn. In Londonderry it was found at Bellaghy in the mid-1970s, but this site has been destroyed. Not recorded from Fermanagh yet, which seems surprising in view of its preference for Hazel. Adults are seldom seen at light which may account for its absence at some western localities where Hazel is common.

Ecology: A small richly-marked species that is associated in N. Ireland with Hazel Corylus avellana woodland. Since adults seldom come to light, beating Hazel branches seems the most appropriate and productive method for obtaining adults. The larvae can be found in July and August on Hazel and birch Betula spp. It overwinters as a pupa.

Key Identification Features:

• Silky appearance
• Small fine cross-lines

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

iNaturalist: Asthena albulata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.