Description: Wingspan 28-36 mm. Adults can be extremely variable in colour. Forewings range from pale straw to a light brown or chestnut colour. Stigmata not always clearly defined. There are two dark marks between the anterior and posterior crosslines; these marks are not always distinct on some individuals. Hindwings pale yellowish grey, with a small discal spot. Late May to the end of August.

World Distribution: Holarctic; in western Europe confined to higher altitudes in southern regions.

Irish Distribution: A common and widespread species found throughout all counties and on Rathlin Island.

Ecology: This is generally distributed in most habitats. Adults appear regularly at light and also visit flowers and honeydew. The larvae feed from September until April of the following year on Bramble Rubus fruticosus, Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus, willow Salix spp., Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and Heather Calluna vulgaris. It overwinters as a larva.

Key Identification Features:

• Two dark-coloured marks on forewings - one larger than the other
• Dark broken line along the outer margin of both wings

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

iNaturalist: Diarsia mendica at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.