Entephria flavicinctata (Hubner, 1809-13)

Description: Wingspan 34-39mm. Adults are generally pale grey and cryptic when at rest on rocks and ledges. The basal, central and outer marginal cross lines are suffused with yellow.

Key Identification Features:

• Confined in recent times to coastal localities in the north
• Forewings have a mottled appearance
• Rests on rocks and ledges during the day
• Pale hindwings

Sets:

Flight Period: Recorded in N. Ireland in July and August.

Status: Rare, apparently confined to Fair Head on the north Antrim coast where it has been recorded in 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2000. Formally recorded from Glen Wood near Florencecourt Fermanagh, around 1914. Recent fieldwork in this ancient piece of woodland has so far failed to rediscover it if it still survives in this area.

Ecology: A species normally associated with rocky habitats by the sea where it rests by day exposed on surfaces of rocks and in crevices. Adults have never in recent times been recorded at light in N. Ireland and all of the records to date (with the exception of the larval records in the mid-1990s) have been of individuals disturbed from their resting places during the day. The larvae can be found from September to June on saxifrages Saxifraga spp. Previous records had suggested that this species was linked to Yellow Mountain Saxifrage Saxifraga aizoides although the Fair Head population feeds on Mossy Saxifrage Saxifraga hypnoides. It overwinters as a larva.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 1743 Agassiz number: 70.071

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: