Description: Wingspan 28-34mm. A distinctive moth; forewings range from purplish brown to chestnut brown, with a pale costal streak that runs from the basal area and fades out well short of the apex; stigmata straw-coloured, with a dark line. Hindwings glossy white with pale brown at the outer margin. Double-brooded, adults have been recorded right through from early May until the end of September, but more abundant in June and July and again in late August and September.

World Distribution: Holarctic species; found across Europe including Finland and North Africa.

Irish Distribution: Widespread and common throughout all counties including Rathlin Island.

Ecology: Found in a wide variety of habitats including woodland, marshes and gardens. Adults appear frequently at light and also visit various flowers, particularly Ragwort Senecio jacobaea. The larvae feed throughout the summer until late autumn on dock Rumex spp., plantain Plantago spp. and probably other lower growing plants. It overwinters as a pupa.

Key Identification Features:

• Pale costal streak
• Dark black line through stigmata
• Glossy white wings

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

iNaturalist: Ochropleura plecta at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.