Description: Wingspan 29-34 mm. Forewings are generally greyish white, but the colour is variable. There is a small black basal streak and stigmata which are paler than ground colour. There is a small brown patch on the costa near the apex of the forewing and a fine black broken line at the outer margin. Hindwings whitish brown, darker towards the outer margin with fine veining, slightly darker than ground colour. Mid to late June and again throughout most of August.

World Distribution: Throughout western Europe from the Pyrenees to Scandinavia.

Irish Distribution: Rare; reported only in recent times from Gortmaconnell Rock and Legalough in the Fermanagh limestone uplands. Other records come from Shane's Castle and Ballymacilrany, Antrim and Murlough National Nature Reserve, Down.

Ecology: Found mainly in woodland, heaths and marshy areas. Adults are attracted to light and flowers, in particular, Viper's Bugloss Echium vulgare and campions Silene spp. It hides by day among the undergrowth. The larvae feed from April until June on willows Salix spp. It overwinters as an egg.

Key Identification Features:

• Basal streak and darker patch at the costal edge of the forewing
• Fine black broken line at the outer edge of the forewing
• Dark thorax and anal tuft

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

iNaturalist: Brachylomia viminalis at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.