Description: Wingspan 30-40 mm. Forewings are greyish brown to dark brown with paler crosslines and a pale, irregular subterminal. The stigmata are outlined in white and well defined. Hindwings are fuscous with small discal spot and a broad, darker subterminal fascia. Mid-May to late July.

World Distribution: Throughout western Europe as far north as central Scandinavia.

Irish Distribution: Widely distributed in the south-eastern quarter of N. Ireland. There are only two recent records from north of Lough Neagh at Portrush and Rathlin Island, Antrim.

Ecology: Found in a variety of habitats including coastal dunes, heathland, woodland and suburban gardens. Adults come occasionally to light and also to flowers after dusk. The larvae feed during July and August on various species of campions Silene spp. It overwinters as a pupa.

Key Identification Features:

• Well-defined stigmata
• Pale irregular subterminal line

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

iNaturalist: Hadena bicruris at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.