Description: Wingspan 34-40 mm. Adults are variable in colour. The forewings vary from greyish brown through to reddish brown with many intermediate forms. The stigmata are conspicuous and finely edged with pale yellowish white line. The subterminal line is fairly straight and curved inwards slightly near the costa. Hindwings are fuscous but may be lighter in some other colour forms. Mid-February to mid-May.

World Distribution: Throughout Europe as far north as Finland.

Irish Distribution: Common and widely distributed in all counties including Rathlin Island.

Ecology: A species associated mainly with woodland habitats. Adults are frequently seen at light and will also visit willow Salix spp. catkins and Blackthorn Prunus spinosa blossom. The larvae feed during May and June on oak Quercus spp., willow Salix spp. and possibly other trees.

Key Identification Features:

• Large conspicuous stigmata
• Straight subterminal line
• Small broken dotted line neat outer margin of forewing

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

iNaturalist: Orthosia cerasi at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.