Eupithecia valerianata (Hubner, 1813)

Description: Wingspan 15-18 mm. Forewings brownish grey with faint dark-coloured crosslines and a wavy white sub-marginal line, which is not always evident. Hindwings pale whitish brown with a distinct tornal spot.

Key Identification Features:

• Small size
• Pale sub-marginal line
• Tornal spot on hindwings

Sets:

Flight Period: Skinner gives June and July as the normal flight period in Britain.

Status: Recorded in N. Ireland for the first time at Brackagh Moss National Nature Reserve, Armagh in 1995 and again in 1998, 1999 and 2002. Other Irish records come from Cos. Cavan, Clare, Cork and Donegal

Ecology: A small elusive species that may be expected at other fenland sites where the food plant occurs. The larvae feed during July and August on the flowers of Common Valerian Valeriana officinalis. It overwinters as a pupa.

World Distribution: Eurasiatic; common and widespread throughout central Europe, east to Asia Minor.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 1821 Agassiz number: 70.181

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: