Maps updated: April 2008

Hadena rivularis (Fabricius, 1775)

Description: Wingspan 30-36mm. Forewings are purplish brown. The stigmata are not distinctive. The antemedian and postmedian lines have a purplish hue and are quite distinctive. Hindwings are pale fuscous, with a broad darker terminal fascia and a small discal spot.

Key Identification Features:

• Overall pinkish appearance
• Strong purplish crosslines
• Discal spot on hindwings

Sets:

Flight Period: Mid-May to early August.

Status: Confined mainly to southern counties. The only northern records are from Newton Crommelin and Rathlin Island in Antrim.

Ecology: An attractive species found in a variety of habitats, including damp woodland, bogs, fens and occasionally suburban areas, where it has been recorded from several gardens in the Greater Belfast area. Adults appear at light in small numbers and also visit flowers, especially campions, Red Valerian Centranthus ruber and Viper's Bugloss Echium vulgare. The larvae feed throughout July to early September on the seeds of campions Silene and Lychnis. It overwinters as a pupa.

World Distribution: Throughout Europe to the Arctic.

Caterpillar: