Description: Wingspan 38-46mm. Adults look brownish-grey when at rest. The forewings are brownish-grey with a pale basal spot. The middle third of the wings is white, edged with black wavy lines, and marked with a small, black crescent. The outer margin of the forewings is brownish grey. The hindwings are smoky-grey and unmarked. Generally from the beginning of April (although some individuals have been recorded in late March), until the end of May.

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

Irish Distribution: Widely distributed but local. Previously considered rare and restricted to a few sites in the west but now known to be present at sites in the east. In recent years recorded at some well-trapped sites such as the Argory, Armagh, Derryleckagh and Rostrevor NNR, Down, Garvary Wood and Monmurry, Fermanagh and Rehaghy, Tyrone, largely as a result of targeted fieldwork in spring.

Ecology: An attractive spring species that is mainly associated with mature oak Quercus spp. woodland. Adults are attracted to light and appear frequently in small numbers. The larvae can be found during July and August on oak. It overwinters as a pupa.

Key Identification Features:

• Flight period
• Pale basal spot; dark crosslines
• Crescent mark on forewing
• Plain smoky grey hindwings

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

iNaturalist: Drymonia ruficornis at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.