Description: Wingspan 30-35mm. The ground colour of the forewings is generally whitish grey and suffused with darker grey giving a mottled appearance. There are three cross-lines near the costa, which are sometimes indistinct. Not known in N. Ireland, Skinner gives May and June as the flight period on the mainland.

World Distribution: Throughout Europe, eastern Siberia and Japan.

Irish Distribution: A rare species that has not been seen for many years; previously recorded by Langham at Demesne Lough Tempo in 1936 and Rostrevor Oakwood by Johnson around the same time. Increased fieldwork during the 1990s (especially in the south and west) failed to find this species. Its long-term absence does not necessarily mean it has become extinct, but the lack of any real proof in recent times makes it difficult to confirm its present status. Increased fieldwork over the last several years, especially in west Fermanagh and the birch woodlands in north Armagh may well prove successful as it has so frequently in the past for other notable species.

Ecology: A species normally associated with woodland, especially were birch is well established. According to Skinner, adults are attracted to light and can occasionally be found by day at rest on the trunks of trees and fence posts. There have been a few recent records claiming to be this species, however no genuine specimens exist to substantiate these claims. In southern Ireland it occurs in Cos. Kerry, Galway and Wicklow. The larvae can be found in July and August on birch or occasionally on alder Alnus glutinosa. It overwinters in the pupal stage.

Key Identification Features:

• Three dark discal lines emanating from the costa
• Adults have a mottled appearance
• Difficult to identify with certainty if worn
• Genital examination is recommended for this species to confirm identity

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

iNaturalist: Aethalura punctulata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.