Description: Wingspan 31-40mm. Adults are variable in size and colour. The typical form tends to be light greyish brown with two darker cross-lines and a small dark discal spot near the costa. Paler forms are also common among populations. Mid-May to mid-August.

World Distribution: Throughout northern and central Europe as far east as Russia.

Irish Distribution: Widespread and frequently encountered where it occurs, especially in Fermanagh, east Tyrone and north Antrim. In Down there are no recent records apart from an old record dating back to 1903 from the Newcastle area.

Ecology: A species commonly associated with upland and lowland heaths and bogs. Adults are occasionally seen at light but usually in small numbers. According to Skinner adults can be found after dark resting on Heather Calluna vulgaris. The larvae can be found from late September through to April of the following year on Heather and Cross-leaved Heath Erica tetralix. It overwinters as a larva.

Key Identification Features:

• Colour greyish brown
• Small discal spot on both wings
• Wavy line on outer margin of both wings

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

iNaturalist: Dyscia fagaria at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.