Cosmorhoe ocellata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Description: Wingspan 28-30mm. Adults are normally white with a broad bluish black central band tinged with pale ochreous brown at the marginal edge. The basal patch is also dark in colour.

Key Identification Features:

• White wings
• Dark blue central band

Sets:

Flight Period: From early May right through to late September.

Status: Widespread and commonly encountered in all counties.

Ecology: An attractive species associated with a variety of habitats particularly woodland, calcareous grassland, coastal heaths and dunes. Adults come frequently to light, often in good numbers at some of its coastal localities such as Murlough NNR and Killard Point NNR, Down. It is occasionally disturbed by day from bushes and other vegetation. The larvae can be found from summer through to autumn on bedstraws Galium spp. It overwinters as a pupa.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 1752 Agassiz number: 70.087

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: