Description: Wingspan 30-36mm. Forewings silvery grey with yellow streak of uniform width on whole length of the costa of the forewing. The thorax is grey with an orange collar. Hindwings pale ochreous yellow. Rests with wings rolled tightly around body. Mainly July with occasional records in some years from late June and early August.

World Distribution: Throughout northern and central Europe east to Asia.

Irish Distribution: Local and confined to coastal localities of Down and Antrim including Castleward, Kilclief Village and John's Island in the Copelands, Down and at the West Lighthouse on Rathlin I., Antrim.

Ecology: A scarce species, found in N. Ireland at rocky coastal sites, but elsewhere can be found in woods and sand dunes. Adults become active from dusk onwards and are attracted to flowers especially Knapweed Centaurea nigra and thistles; they appear at light in small numbers. The larvae feed on lichens. It overwinters as a larva.

Key Identification Features:

• Wings normally folded tightly around the body (typical footman resting posture)
• Yellow streak uniform in width throughout the length of forewing
• Orange collar

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

iNaturalist: Eilema complana at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.