Papestra biren (Goeze, 1781)

Description: Wingspan 32-40mm. Forewings are darkish grey becoming lighter towards the outer margin, but this can vary among individuals. Stigmata are conspicuous and normally lighter than the base colour and outlined in white. Ante and postmedian lines are also paler than the base wing colour. Hindwings are fuscous brown marked with darker veining and a small discal lunule.

Key Identification Features:

• Marbled appearance
• Conspicuous stigmata
• Small discal lunule on hindwing

Sets:

Flight Period: Recorded in May in N. Ireland. Skinner givers May and June as the normal flight period in Britain.

Status: Widely distributed but local. The majority of recent records are from west Fermanagh at Belcoo, Belleek, Garvary, Marlbank and Florencecourt. There are also isolated records from Ballinderry and Rathlin Island, Antrim and Loughgall, Armagh.

Ecology: An upland species favouring moorland and occasionally lowland bogs and heaths. Adults are attracted to light and also visit flowers, especially willow Salix spp. and Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus. Adults often rest by day on the shaded sides of large stones, old fence posts and tree trunks. The larvae feed throughout July and August on Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, Bog Myrtle Myrica gale, willow Salix spp., Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus and Heather Calluna vulgaris. It overwinters as a pupa.

World Distribution: Throughout western Europe from Scandinavia to Spain.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 2162 Agassiz number: 73.272

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: