Description: Wingspan 36-38 mm. Forewings reddish brown with poorly-defined stigmata and crosslines and small prominent dark-coloured dot in the upper half of the forewing. Hindwings fuscous brown with a paler fringe and fine red line. The few N. Ireland records have been between mid August and early September. With so little information on this species it is difficult to provide an accurate flight period. Skinner gives August and September as the main flight period in Britain.

World Distribution: Western Europe from Portugal to Scandinavia.

Irish Distribution: Described by Donovan (1936) as being rare in Ireland and only reported a few times in the last 20 years. The most recent record is from Davagh Forest, Tyrone. Other N. Ireland sites are Murlough Bay near Fair Head and Aghalee, Antrim, Monastir Glen, Fermanagh and Argory Moss, Armagh. There is also an old record for Coleraine Londonderry.

Ecology: A heathland species. Adults are attracted to light and to the flowers of Heather Calluna vulgaris. They will often rest during the day concealed amongst the lower branches of Heather. The larvae feed from October until late spring on willow Salix spp. and Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna. It overwinters as a larva.

Key Identification Features:

• Prominent dark-coloured dot on forewing
• Darker hindwings with fine red line

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

iNaturalist: Xestia castanea at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.