Description: Wingspan 40-46mm. A distinctive species easily recognised by the green and brown markings on the forewings. Terminal band darker; stigmata large, white in colour, with a darkish- brown centre; crosslines fine with pale edges. Hindwings shiny pale brown with white chequered fringe. Unknown in N. Ireland. Late August and September in Britain.

World Distribution: Throughout western Europe as far south as Portugal reaching north to Scandinavia.

Irish Distribution: A rare species that has declined. Foster described it as being abundant on the dunes at Murlough, Down in the early 1930s. It was last recorded at Murlough National Nature Reserve in 1978. Other records include Tollymore, Down in 1973, Portballintrae and Portrush, Antrim in 1903. It occurs along the north and western Irish coastline in Cos. Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Clare and Cork.

Ecology: A declining species, which favours coastal dunes and heathland. Adults are attracted to light and also flowers especially Ragwort Senecio jacobaea and Heather Calluna vulgaris. The larvae are nocturnal and rest by day concealed in the sand near the foodplant. They feed from September until June on Creeping Willow Salix repens. It overwinters as a larva.

Key Identification Features:

• Colour, wing shape and fine crosslines
• Shiny brown hindwings

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

iNaturalist: Actebia praecox at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.