Description: Wingspan 28-38 mm. Forewings greyish white with conspicuous white crosslines and a series of small white marks along the outer edge. There is a pale marking beside the stigmata which has the appearance of a pair of shears, and gives the moth its common name. Mid May to late July.

World Distribution: Throughout western Europe from Spain to the Arctic.

Irish Distribution: Widely distributed across southern counties. In the north, confined to the coastal area between Limavady and Portrush and on Rathlin Island, Antrim.

Ecology: A species associated with a variety of habitats such as woodland, bogs and coastal heaths. Adults are attracted to light in small numbers and will also visit flowers. It often rests on tree trunks and fence posts by day. The larvae feed in July and August on hawk's-beard Crepis spp., hawkweed Hieracium spp. and chickweed Stellaria spp. It overwinters as a pupa.

Key Identification Features:

• Scissor-like marking on forewings
• Pale blotch on forewings
• White fringe on hindwings

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

iNaturalist: Hada nana at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.