Hadena confusa (Hufnagel, 1766)

Description: Wingspan 33-39 mm. The forewings are a mixture of black and white. The stigmata are fused together to form a large white blotch. The subterminal line is white and irregular. There is a small white apical blotch and chequered fringe. Hindwings are fuscous with a small discal lunule and white fringe.

Key Identification Features:

• White blotch on the forewings
• Irregular subterminal line and small apical blotch
• Dark hindwings with discal lunule

Sets:

Flight Period: Mid-May to late July.

Status: Widely distributed, but local. Recorded from widely scattered localities in Fermanagh, Antrim and north Down. The majority of recent records are from regularly trapped sites in Fermanagh including Garvary Wood, Eshywulligan and Derrylin. It has obviously been overlooked in this county in the past. It has also been taken on the north Antrim coast at White Park Bay, Murlough Bay and Rathlin Island.

Ecology: A species generally associated with woodlands and coastal grasslands usually on calcareous soils. Adults are attracted to light and flowers especially Red Valerian Centranthus ruber, but are seldom seen in more than one's or two's. The larvae feed during July and August on the seeds pods of Sea Campion Silene uniflora on coastal sites. Related species of Silene are used at inland habitats. It overwinters as a pupa.

World Distribution: Throughout western Europe as far north as central Scandinavia.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 2171 Agassiz number: 73.283

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: