Maps updated: April 2008

Eupithecia expallidata Doubleday, 1856

Description: Wingspan 20-24 mm. Forewings broad and well rounded. Adults are pale light brown in colour and have two distinct black costal marks and a large black discal spot. There is also a fine black broken line running around the outer margin of the forewing. Hindwings similar in colour with a small discal spot.

Key Identification Features:

• Large well-rounded forewings
• Black costal marks
• Small discal spot on hindwing

Sets:

Flight Period: End of July to late August. Skinner gives July and August as the normal flight period in Britain.

Status: A rare species with only two recent records from Belvoir Park, Down in 1999 and Aughalun near Brookeborough, Fermanagh in 2000. There are old records for Portaferry, Down and Magilligan, Londonderry. In southern Ireland it has been recorded from Cos. Louth, Westmeath, Wicklow and Dublin.

Ecology: A rare species mainly associated with woodland rides and clearings. The larvae feed during September and October on the flowers of Goldenrod Solidago virgaurea. It overwinters as a pupa.

World Distribution: Eurasiatic; widespread across Europe.