Description: Wingspan 55-66 mm. Adults are similar in appearance to the Red Sword Grass X. vetusta when at rest. They wrap their wings tightly around their body resembling a dead piece of wood. Forewings are straw-coloured with a darker flush along the costal half of the wing. There is a small dark mark in the central area of the forewing; antemedian and post median lines are indistinct. The subterminal line is irregular and paler than the ground colour. Hindwings are fuscous with darker veining and a small discal lunule. Not known in N. Ireland. In Britain adults are seen in September and October and again after hibernation during March and April according to Skinner.

World Distribution: Throughout western Europe from Spain to central Scandinavia.

Irish Distribution: There have been no recent records although it was described by Baynes as being widely distributed throughout Ireland. The last confirmed record was from a mature garden in Loughgall, Armagh in 1953. There are two other records, both from Armagh, from Drumbanagher near Jerrettspass in 1940 and Acton Glebe in 1899.

Ecology: This is a bogland species. It may have declined due to habitat loss as appears to be the case throughout much of lowland Britain. Adults are attracted to light and will also feed on overripe berries and Ivy Hedera helix blossom in the autumn prior to hibernation. The larvae feed from May until the beginning of July on various plants.

Key Identification Features:

• Resembles a dead piece of wood
• Resting posture and time of year
• Dark patches on the central area of the forewing
• Small discal lunule on hindwing

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

iNaturalist: Xylena exsoleta at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.