Description: Wingspan 30-40 mm. Forewings normally reddish brown but this can vary, with some individuals being noticeably lighter or darker in colour. There are two square-shaped marks on the forewing, one lighter, the other darker. The postmedian line is broken into a series of small dots. Hindwings are pale whitish brown with dark veining and a small discal spot which is normally quite faint. Mid July to the end of September. Adults have been occasionally recorded in June and early October.

World Distribution: Throughout western Europe as far north as Finland.

Irish Distribution: Common and widespread throughout all counties and on Rathlin Island.

Ecology: Found in a wide variety of habitats. Adults come frequently to light and also visit the flowers of Ragwort Senecio jacobaea, Buddleia Buddleja davidii and Heather Calluna vulgaris. The larvae feed from September to April of the following year on various grasses and other low-growing herbaceous plants.

Key Identification Features:

• Two square-shaped marks on the forewing
• Postmedian line broken into a series of small dots
• White hindwings suffused with brown and darker veining.

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

iNaturalist: Xestia xanthographa at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.