Description: Wingspan 42-48 mm. Forewings are light reddish brown with a darker patch on the outer margin of the wing. The stigmata are not clearly defined. The postmedian line is a series of small black dots. Subterminal line faint and poorly defined. Hindwings light whitish brown with dark veining and a small discal spot which is not always clearly defined. Adults have only been recorded during July in N. Ireland. Skinner gives late June to early August as the normal flight period in Britain.

World Distribution: Eurasiatic: in Europe it is widespread but local occurring from Spain to central Scandinavia.

Irish Distribution: Scarce, and confined in recent times to just a few sites in Fermanagh. There were 2 records in 1988 from Monawilkin and a raised bog near Blackhill, In 2000 it was trapped at Gortmaconnell Rock. There is some doubt about the authenticity of the Monawilkin and Gortmaconnell records and these require confirmation. There is an old 20th century record for the Glenarm area of Antrim and a late 19th century record for Favour Royal, Tyrone. In southern Ireland it has been recorded from Dublin, Wicklow, Meath, Westmeath, Offaly, Sligo, Kerry, Galway and Clare, particularly the Burren.

Ecology: Essentially a species of limestone areas, with a preference for rough grassy habitats. This species has been specifically targeted in recent times but all efforts in areas where the moth has previously been recorded have been successful. The larval foodplants in the wild are unknown. It overwinters as a larva.

Key Identification Features:

• Dark patches at the outer margin of the forewing
• Dotted postmedian line
• Discal spot on hindwing

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

iNaturalist: Apamea sublustris at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.