Description: Wingspan 29-34mm. Forewings range from grey-brown to red-brown. The antemedian, postmedian and subterminal lines are all reduced to a series of dots. The stigmata are similar to the ground colour of the forewing but have a fine paler outline. The hindwings are dark brown with a pale ochreous fringe. Unknown in N. Ireland. Skinner gives mid-July and throughout August as the normal flight period in Britain.

World Distribution: Mainly restricted to the north and eastern parts of Europe from the Pyrenees to Finland.

Irish Distribution: Not known as there have been no recent confirmed records of this birch-feeding species. There are old records from sites in Tyrone and Armagh plus a dubious record from Londonderry. Elsewhere in Ireland it has a sporadic distribution and has been recorded from Cos.Wicklow, Kerry and Dublin.

Ecology: A woodland species but little is known about its habitat in Ireland. Adults show some attraction to light and also flowers especially Ragwort Senecio jacobaea and Heather Calluna vulgaris. The larvae feed during April and May on birch Betula spp. and possibly willow Salix spp. It overwinters as an egg.

Key Identification Features:

• Antemedian and post median lines which are reproduced as small dark dots
• Finely outlined stigmata
• Dark brown hindwings

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

iNaturalist: Parastichtis suspecta at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.